Shocker SB at Loyola

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers continue their conference play with a series against Loyola in Chicago - a DH at noon on Saturday and a single game at 11am on Sunday.

The Ramblers have a record of 17-11 and a conference mark of 0-6, losing series to Evansville and Missouri State. They have scored four runs in those six games. The only school they played pre-conference that you have ever heard of is Alabama. Well, you have probably heard of Harvard, too. Loyola were a preseason pick for last in the Valley.

The highest OPS for the Ramblers is .867 for Shannon McGee. Their two pitchers are Kiley Jones (ERA of 2.40 and WHIP of 1.18) and Keenan Dolezal (3.32 and 1.34).

The Shocker offense to mention is Laurie (1.105 and eight homers), Paige (1.011 and seven homers), Madison (.999 and six homers), Mackenzie (.965) and Macklin (.935 and six homers).

Katie now has an ERA of 2.55 and a WHIP of 1.33. Jenni's numbers slipped to 5.25 and 2.33 in 24 innings. Bailey is at 4.20 and 1.91 over 35 innings. The biggest question to be answered this weekend is can Jenni show some progress. At 132 innings, the load may take a toll on Katie by the end of the season.

[1972Shocker]

@flyingMoose: you need to clear space in your private mail box.

[flyingMoose]

@flyingMoose you need to clear space in your private mail box.

Done.

[flyingMoose]

Game One

Katie has the start for the Shockers. The lineup is MackenzieW-5, Kelli-7, Laurie-6, Madison-2, Paige-DP, McKenzieA-9, Mauriana-4, Macklin-3, Ashley-8. Keenan Dolezal has the start for the Ramblers.

Loyola plays on artificial turf.

[flyingMoose]

In the Shocker first, Mackenzie is hit by a pitch to leadoff the game and advances to second on a ground ball. But she wanders too far off second on another ground ball and is caught in a rundown. Sloppy base running.

McKenzie drives a double to the wall in left center with one out in the second, but two ground ball outs follow. In the bottom of the second, Loyola pops a home run down the left field line.

Loyola leads 1-0 after two.

[flyingMoose]

In the third, Mackenzie dropped a solo homer between the fence and the scoreboard in left center, her second homer of the season.

Tied at 1-1 after three.

[flyingMoose]

In the Shocker fourth with two outs, Mauriana walks and Macklin singles to left, but the Loyola center fielder catches Ashley's liner on a semi-dive.

In the bottom of the fourth, Kelli snares a line drive slicing toward the line, but bangs up her shoulder. After a few throws, she stays in the game.

Katie has made three throws to first on comebackers. (LSU ref)

Still tied after four.

[flyingMoose]

In the fifth, Kelli singles but is thrown out (by a ton) trying to steal.

Macklin closes the bottom half with a nice play. After fielding a hopper to her right, she dives to first base to beat the runner.

Still tied at 1-1 after five. The Shockers have five hits, while the Ramblers have just two.

[flyingMoose]

Madison leads off the sixth with her seventh homer, and the Shockers take a 2-1 lead into the seventh.

[flyingMoose]

With one out, both Ashley and Mackenzie walk. After advancing on a ground out, the bases are loaded when Laurie is hit by a pitch, another category she leads the team in with seven. A fly out by Madison ends the top of the seventh.

Katie sets Loyola down in order in the bottom of the seventh, getting the last out on another comebacker.


Shockers 2-1 Loyola

This game was played in one hour and forty minutes, amazing in this day and age of college softball

Katie gave up only two hits in the complete game win, her sixteenth. She had four strike outs and gave up one walk.

The Shockers only had six hits. Beyond the homers by Mackenzie and Madison, Kelli had two singles.

[flyingMoose]

Game Two

Katie gets the start in this one also. Having only throw 74 pitches in the first game, this is an understandable decision. The batting order is changed slightly. Madison and Laurie switch places, Madison now in the three hole and Laurie in the four hole. Kiley Jones has the start for Loyola.

[flyingMoose]

In the first, Madison and Laurie single with two outs, but Paige grounds out.

No score after one.

[flyingMoose]

In the second McKenzie singles and a sac bunt by Paige moves her to second. From second, McKenzie taps the top of the helmet to tell Macklin a change is coming. After the pitch, the catcher and pitcher have a short meeting and move to a sequence of signs. No matter. Macklin drives a double inside the bag at first to score McKenzie.

After a ground out advances Macklin, Mackenzie walks. Then Mackliin is caught at home on a double steal attempt. With Mackliin's foot speed, this seems a strange strategy - it wasn't that close.

Time for me to go. Shockers lead 1-0 in the middle of the second.

[1972Shocker]

Katie has made three throws to first on comebackers. (LSU ref)

I take it these were 3 accurate throws and not the air-mailed variety.

[1972Shocker]

Freshman catcher Madison Perrigan provides the winning run with a solo home run to center in the top of the 6th.

Game One Final: Shocks 2 - Loyola 1

Katie picks up the win going the distance while facing only 3 batters over the minimum. The 2nd inning solo homer, a 1-out single in teh 3rd and 2 out walk in the 4th. Katie struck out 4 and induced 13 ground outs and 1 infield pop up. Not many balls made it out of the infield for Loyola in this game.

Shockers: 2 Runs, 6 Hits, 8 LOB and 0 Errors (Good to see the goose egg in the error column)
Ramblers: 1 Run, 2 Hits, 2 LOB and 0 Errors