Shocker SB at Loyola

[flyingMoose]

Game Two

With the Shockers ahead 1-0 in the third, the Ramblers managed to load the bases with the help of an error before Katie got a line out to left to end the inning.

They managed to do the same with one out in the sixth - double, single, walk - but got a force at the plate on yet another comebacker and a ground out.

In the Shocker seventh, Madison got her second homer of the day. Bethany pinch-hit for Laurie and walked and Asea pinch-hit for Paige and doubled home Laurie who had re-entered.

Katie allowed a single in the bottom of the seventh but finished off her complete game shutout.


Shockers 3-0 Loyola

Katie gave up five hits, walking two and striking out five, for her second win of the day. There were 95 pitches in this one for Katie. I am not sure what to make of Jenni not getting a start today. Not far enough along to be trusted? Some kind of small setback?

Madison was the only Shocker to have multiple hits - a homer and single - among the seven hits by the Shocks. Macklin and Asea both had a double for the other extra-base hits by the Shocks. Dolezal and Jones were similar pitchers for Loyola - keep it low, lots of offspeed.

[1972Shocker]

Game Two

Somewhat surprisingly Katie got the start for the Shocks in Game 2 as well. Kiley Jones started for Loyola.

The Shocks scored 1st in the top of the 2nd when McKenzie Adams led off with a single, was sacrificed to 2nd by Mauriana Jamele and scored on Mackin Hitz' double down the RF line.

Neither team scored again until the Shocks gave Katie 2 insurance runs in the top of the 7th. Madison Perrigan delivered a 1 out solo home run to left center. A couple of interesting pinch hitting substitutions followed. Bethany Canada pinch hit for Laurie Derrico and walked. Laurie was then re-inserted to run the bases. Asea Webber then pinch hit for Paige Luellen and delivered an RBI double to right center scoring Laurie. A tip of the cap to Bethany and Asea.

Kaitie allowed a lead off single in the 7th but then retired the next 3 hitters to close out her 2nd complete game win of the day.

Katie wasn't quite as sharp in Game 2 as she faced 8 batters over the minimum allowing 5 htis (4 singles and a double), 2 walks plus the Shockers committed an error. Still Katie made the pitches when she needed to as she kept the Ramblers off the scoreboard.

Shockers: 3 Runs, 7 Hits, 10 LOB, 1 Error
Ramblers: 0 Runs, 5 Hits, 8 LOB, 1 Error

Clearly Katie was the Player of the Day for the Shocks. Madison Perrigan with a solo homer in each game gets an honorabe mention. I have a feeling Madison may well challenge the Shocker career home run records before she is through. Shocks played pretty solid defense but let too many runners on base. A total of 18 in the two games. A lot of the credit for that though goes to the Loyola pitchers.

Katie went the distance in both games for the Shocks and each of the 2 Loyola starters pitched complete games as well. 2 hard earned wins for the Lady Shocks. Question is can Katie hold up to the work load. I assume Jenni and Bailey were available today but I don't know that for sure.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks move into a 4-way tie for 1st place in the Valley standings with Missouri State, Southern Illinois and Illinois State at 6-2. UNI is one game back at 5-3.

Shocks need to complete the sweep of Loyola today to keep pace.

[ShockTalk]

Shocks move into a 4-way tie for 1st place in the Valley standings with Missouri State, Southern Illinois and Illinois State at 6-2. UNI is one game back at 5-3.

Shocks need to complete the sweep of Loyola today to keep pace.

Any concern for a lack of offense and closeness of the games so far? Evansville swept the Ramblers scoring 11 runs in 3 games (they are also getting pounded by UNI so far this weekend).

[1972Shocker]

Any concern for a lack of offense and closeness of the games so far? Evansville swept the Ramblers scoring 11 runs in 3 games (they are also getting pounded by UNI so far this weekend).

Not too much concern. Shocks definitely left way too many runners on base yesterday. 8 in Game 1 and 10 in Game 2 but the Shocks did hit a number of balls on the nose that were caught in many of those RISP situations. All 3 of our home runs on the day were solo homers. Need to come through with a few of those with ducks on the pond.

Statistically Loyola leads the Valley in team ERA at 2.17 so it is not a huge surprise they pitched well on Saturday and you would expect them to do so today.

I am actually more concerned about the lack of depth on the pitching staff. Relying on one pitcher to carry almost the entire load can work but is not ideal.

[1972Shocker]

Game Three

Katie Malone in the circle for the Shocks which is not a surprise. Keenan Dolezal, who pitched Game 1 yesterday, is in the circle for Loyola.

Shocks had a great scoring opportunity in the top of the 3rd getting runners to 2nd and 3rd with only 1 out. But a softly hit ball to 3B by Kelly Spring and a one hopper by Madison Perrigan stabbed by the Loyola pitcher ended the Shocker threat. I thought Kelly's at bat was especially poor. Madison just missed a home run before she hit the one hopper back to the pitcher.

After 3 innings no score. Looks like were in for another nail biter.

[1972Shocker]

Game still scoreless after 4.

The Shocks get a bloop double to left and a bloop single to CF leading off the 5th from Asea Webber and Ashley Johnson with Ashley moving to 2nd on a throw to 3rd by the CF on her single. Loyola made a pitching change bringing in Kiley Jones who pitched Game 2 yesterday who uncorked a wild pitch on her 1st pitch to score Asea. On a 1-1 count the Shocks put on a suicide squeeze and Mackenzie right got a pitch that was low and inside and she whiffed on the bunt and Ashley was put out in a run down. Mackenzie then took a called 3rd strike to end the inning.

Shocks lead 1-0 but they are not doing a good job taking advantage of their scoring opportunities.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks put a couple of runners on in the 6th on singles by Madison Perrigan and McKenzie Adams but Ryleigh Buck, had came to replaced Macklin Hitz at 1st base, struck out to end the inning and looked bad doing it.

Loyola gets a lead off single in their half of the 6th. Loyola moves the runner to 2nd and then get a 2-our RBI single to tie the game at 1.

I have to leave. Hopefully, the Shocks can figure out a way to pull this out.

[flyingMoose]

Nope.

Single, sac bunt, single and infield single in the bottom of the seventh and Loyola takes the last game of the series and gets their first win in conference.


Shockers 1-2 Loyola

Katie, pitching the entire weekend, takes the loss. She gave up eight hits in six and one-third innings, striking out four and walking one. Five of the eight hits came in the sixth and seventh innings.

Only Asea, the DP today, had multiple hits among the seven by the Shocks. Her two hits included a double. The Shockers struggled the entire weekend against the softer pitching of the Ramblers.

[flyingMoose]

Other Weekend Series

Southern Illinois 2-1 Illinois State

Bradley 1-2 Missouri State

Evansville 0-3 Northern Iowa

Indiana State 0-3 Drake


Southern Illinois, a preseason pick for third, leads the conference with a 7-2 record. The Shockers are one of four teams with three losses.

[ShockTalk]

Any concern for a lack of offense and closeness of the games so far? Evansville swept the Ramblers scoring 11 runs in 3 games (they are also getting pounded by UNI so far this weekend).

Not too much concern. Shocks definitely left way too many runners on base yesterday. 8 in Game 1 and 10 in Game 2 but the Shocks did hit a number of balls on the nose that were caught in many of those RISP situations. All 3 of our home runs on the day were solo homers. Need to come through with a few of those with ducks on the pond.

Statistically Loyola leads the Valley in team ERA at 2.17 so it is not a huge surprise they pitched well on Saturday and you would expect them to do so today.

I am actually more concerned about the lack of depth on the pitching staff. Relying on one pitcher to carry almost the entire load can work but is not ideal.

Nope.

Single, sac bunt and single in the bottom of the seventh and Loyola takes the last game of the series and gets their first win in conference.


Shockers 1-2 Loyola

Katie, pitching the entire weekend, takes the loss. She gave up eight hits in six and one-third innings, striking out four and walking one.

Only Asea, the DP today, had multiple hits among the seven by the Shocks. Her two hits included a double. The Shockers struggled the entire weekend against the softer pitching of the Ramblers.

How about now? The Shox are looking very "middle of the pack" right now. Yes, we're still in 2nd with 3 other teams, but we still have most all of the top 2/3s to play yet. Offense is in a funk, defense is spotty, and pitching is very thin. Have to have 2 of those 3, and pitching is just going to be thin, to make a run at the top 3 spots.

[flyingMoose]

How about now? The Shox are looking very "middle of the pack" right now. Yes, we're still in 2nd with 3 other teams, but we still have most all of the top 2/3s to play yet. Offense is in a funk, defense is spotty, and pitching is very thin. Have to have 2 of those 3, and pitching is just going to be thin, to make a run at the top 3 spots.

I think you understand, but just in case - my "Nope" was an answer to (rephrased into a question), "Can the Shockers figure a way to pull this one out?"

The offense this weekend was near non-existent, but the Shockers seem to do worse against softer pitching. If they can't touch Tulsa on Thursday, concerns are heightened. I suspect they miss Cacy's leadership. It is not clear there is any "Follow me, ladies" offensive leadership. Some good hitters, but no take-charge upper classmen. Also, HCKB's use of gimmick plays (double steals, suicide squeezes) in first and third situations shows some lack of trust in the offense.

The non-appearance of not-Katie is really problematic. I don't know if HCKB is on Mike's show this week, but I would like to hear more about the pitching situation.

The goal is to finish in the top two of the conference to get a double-bye in the tournament. Top four gets a single-bye. Let's see what can be done - it is still early.

[ShockTalk]

I think you understand, but just in case - my "Nope" was an answer to (rephrased into a question), "Can the Shockers figure a way to pull this one out?"

The offense this weekend was near non-existent, but the Shockers seem to do worse against softer pitching. If they can't touch Tulsa on Thursday, concerns are heightened. I suspect they miss Cacy's leadership. It is not clear there is any "Follow me, ladies" offensive leadership. Some good hitters, but no take-charge upper classmen. Also, HCKB's use of gimmick plays (double steals, suicide squeezes) in first and third situations shows some lack of trust in the offense.

The non-appearance of not-Katie is really problematic. I don't know if HCKB is on Mike's show this week, but I would like to hear more about the pitching situation.

The goal is to finish in the top two of the conference to get a double-bye in the tournament. Top four gets a single-bye. Let's see what can be done - it is still early.

Yes, I did understand your "Nope".

I'm doing a lot of thinking out loud, which can be dangerous (or stupid). The greatest thing this team has going for it is its offense. Hope they get it turned around quickly. With thin pitching, a double-bye would be great, but a single-bye is a must. Really need to sweep @ Bradley to stay in touch with the top as the schedule turns a lot tougher for the Shocks after that.

[1972Shocker]

Definitely not one of the Lady Shocks best offensive weekends. Loyola pitching really seemd to keep them a bit off balance with their off speed pitches. Seemed to me that Loyola threw a lot of change ups and quite of few of those were up in the zone and early in the count. I don't think I saw one Shocker hitter sit on the change up early in the count and take a good hack at one them.

I still think we are a decent hitting team. We did play pretty good defense this weekend which hasn't always been the case. I'm still more concerned about our ptiching situation at this point than I am our hitting. Even a weak hitting team like Loyola will eventually get on a pitcher like Katie if they see her enough times. Aso, I wonder if she may have been tiring a bit at the end of Sunday's game.

[wsunet]

Did anyone watch the sports report last night? HCKB was on it. COX is not available in our area and looking for a quick summary