Shocker SB v Indiana State

[flyingMoose]

If I count correctly six of the thirteen hits Katie gave up and six of the nine hits Jenni gave up were of the infield variety. That is the Sycamore offense by design. They hit very few balls hard.

[flyingMoose]

The Shocks let a good scoring opportunity get away from them in the 2nd

Another wild pitch (descriptive, not a ruling) bounced off the netting behind home plate directly back to the catcher, and McKenzie was an Out trying to get back to third.

In the top of the third, Indiana State attempted a double steal with runners at the corners, and the runner off third anticipated the throw to second. Madison had her trapped off third, ran her back, but held on to the ball too long and the runner made it back. Need better execution there.

[flyingMoose]

However, a solid 2-out opposite field single by Laurie scored Kelli from 3rd and moved Madison from 2nd to 3rd. Not sure what Madison was doing on that play but thought she should have scored. Looks like she might have froze to see if the line drive was caught. Of course, with 2 outs she should have been running hard on contact especially on a ball hit to RF.

I think you are exactly right - not running hard on contact at all.

Mckenzie Adams walked to load the bases and Asea Webber delivered a big 2-out triple with a sharp grounder right over the 1B bag and down into the RF corner. Ashley then greeted the Indiana State relief pitcher with a solid single to center to score Asea and the Shocks are up 7-1 after 3 innings.

A quicker first baseman might have made a play on Asea's ball - it took two bounces before it crossed the bag. With the typical shallow outfield for the Sycamores, the ball easily made it to the corner.

[flyingMoose]

Game Three

Katie and Ihle have the starts again. The lineup is Mackenzie-5, Kelli-4, Madison-2, Macklin-3, McKenzie-7, Paige-9, Asea-DP, Laurie-6 and Ashley-8. That is quite a drop for Laurie. Bad approaches at the plate? Overall lineup structure? Trying to get her attention? You hope a coach explains such a change to the player.

[1972Shocker]

Game Three

That is quite a drop for Laurie. Bad approaches at the plate? Overall lineup structure? Trying to get her attention? You hope a coach explains such a change to the player.

Laurie's line from yesterday's two games was 3-6, 3 runs, 4 RBI and 1 LOB. That's not bad. And is not like Madison, Macklin and Paige are tearing it up. Seems a bit odd.

[1972Shocker]

One thing I noticed about this Shocker team is that a number of their hitters tend to give away the inside part of the plate. Laurie may be the worst a this. A lot of these hitters use an open stance whereby they are more or less diving into the pitches when they stride. It probably helps them from pulling off of pitches but it also makes it tough to open their hits and attack inside pitches. Laurie being relatively tall and lanky compouns her difficulties with the inside pitches as she likes to get those long-arm extended.

I have noticed that opponents seem to be attacking Laurie more and more with fastballs on the inside corner and that has been pretty effective. Especially when an umpire gives the pticher some extra space on the corners like this guy today as Laurie went down looking on an insided fastball that may or may not have been a strike in the 2nd inning.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks strand 4 runners in the 1st and 2nd innings leaving the bases loades in the 2nd and failing to score after getting a runner to 3rd with no outs.

HCKB has a chat with her team before the bottom of the 3rd. Gave them a big KISS. Told them to Keep It Simple Stupid. Take the ball back up the middle. Quit taking good pitches and swinging at bad ones. Seems to have been taken to heart.

Kelli lead of the inning with single to center. Madison moved her to 2nd with a sac bunt. Macklin walked. Mckenzie singled to center to score Kellin but Macklin was thrown out trying to go from 1st to 3rd for the 2nd inning. That was unfortunate because Paige Luellen followed with a home run to right center to put the Shocks up 3-0.

The Shocks still left the bases loades as Asea walked, Laurie singled and Ashely reached on an infield chop. However, after a pitching change, Mackenzie grounded out to SS to end the inning.

[1972Shocker]

Katie gave up her 1st hit and 1st baserunner of the game to lead off the 5th inning but retired the next 3 in order.

Shocks add a run in the bottom of the 5th with a 1 out single to right by Laurie as she fought off one of those inside fastballs, an illegal pitch (the 5th of the game for the Sycamores) mover her to 2nd. She moved to 3rd on a ground out to 2B by Ashley and Mackenzie delivered Laurie to the plate with a 2 out double just to the right of the CF who didn't take the best approach to the ball but it was well struck.

Shocks up 4-0 after 5 complete.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks pick up a couple more in the 6th.

Madison lead off the inning with a single to left. After Macklin flied out to CF, Mckenzie picked up her 2nd double (and 3rd hit) and her 2nd ribbie of the day albeit definitely wind-aided. Asea Weber hit a ball that deflected off the 1st basemans glove to the 2nd baseman who threw back to the 1st baseman but Asea was ruled safe (not sure about that call) and Mckenzie scored the 2nd run of the inning.

Katie sets down the Sycamores in order in the 7th to finish of a 2-hit shutout in which she only faced 23 batters. This after giving up 13 hits to the Sycamores yesterday. Shocks flashed some leather in support of Kaites as Mackenzie, McKenzie and Laurie sealed up the left side of the field making nice plays on a few balls hit well by the Sycamores.

Katie moves to 22-8 on the year.

[flyingMoose]

I have things to do this afternoon, so the LiveReport will have to wait until this evening. Several sparkling plays on defense though. Don't the good plays always sparkle?

[1972Shocker]

I have things to do this afternoon, so the LiveReport will have to wait until this evening. Several sparkling plays on defense though. Don't the good plays always sparkle?

Look forward to it.

[1972Shocker]

Other Sunday Results:

Evansville 6 - Missouri State 4
Northern Iowa 9 - Bradley 8
Loyola 2 - SIU 1
Illinois State 10 - Drake 2 (5 Inning Run Rule Game)

Illinois State at 12-3 remains in 1st one game ahead of the Shocks and UNI at 11-4. MSU, SIU and Evansville are tied for 4th two games behind the Shocks and UNI at 9-6.

[flyingMoose]

Other Sunday Results:

Evansville 6 - Missouri State 4
Northern Iowa 9 - Bradley 8
Loyola 2 - SIU 1
Illinois State 10 - Drake 2 (5 Inning Run Rule Game)

Illinois State at 12-3 remains in 1st one game ahead of the Shocks and UNI at 11-4. MSU, SIU and Evansville are tied for 4th two games behind the Shocks and UNI at 9-6.

The Shocker offense is not the only one the Loyola pitching is throttling.

[WuDrWu]

Other Sunday Results:

Evansville 6 - Missouri State 4
Northern Iowa 9 - Bradley 8
Loyola 2 - SIU 1
Illinois State 10 - Drake 2 (5 Inning Run Rule Game)

Illinois State at 12-3 remains in 1st one game ahead of the Shocks and UNI at 11-4. MSU, SIU and Evansville are tied for 4th two games behind the Shocks and UNI at 9-6.

UNI entered the last of the 7th trailing 8-5.

Single, home run, single home run, game over.

[1972Shocker]

UNI entered the last of the 7th trailing 8-5.

Single, home run, single home run, game over.

Bradley apparently wants to stick it to the Shocks any way they can this weekend.