Shocker SB v Indiana State

[1972Shocker]

Wow, some coverage in the Eagle for the Softball team. :good:

http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article144823699.html

HCKB not totally pleased with what her team's performance at this point. High expectations. I like it.

[flyingMoose]

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.

Let's start with the defense. In the first, Laurie grabbed a slap hit back in the 5-6 hole and had to quickly chuck it to first. The throw was toward home, but Macklin grabbed it and made the tag of the runner. A nice play at both ends. In the second, Katie snagged a sharply hit one-hopper back through the middle and got the out at first. In the fourth, Mackenzie reached across her body to snare a line drive that was probably in foul territory. In the sixth, McKenzie snagged a liner on the run back in left center. In the seventh, Laurie grabbed a line drive in the web of her glove as she lunged to her left.

Interesting play in the top of the second. The second batter with a x-2 count swung and missed, the pitch hitting her in the shoulder. The ball is dead because it hit the batter, but a swing and a miss is a strike, strike three in this case, and the batter is out. The Sycamore coach wasn't buying it, insisting the umpire had to be able to tell her exactly where the pitch hit her batter. With a catcher's glove in his face, he possibly can't - but he can tell by the sound whether the pitch hit the bat or the person.

McKenzie singled to center to score Kelli 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.

Macklin just decided too late to try to advance when the throw went through to the plate. With Macklin's foot speed, she who hesitates is Out. The wind helped on Paige's homer.

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.

Very nice base running by pinch runner Kennedy Long. She is a step or so from second when McKenzie's ball dropped and scored fairly easily. Yes, on the wind - clearly the wind rarely blows like this in Indiana.

Asea's call at first is still uncertain to me, even with Replay. I thought she might be Out when seeing it live. Those plays are difficult for an umpire because the soft toss does not create the sound that a full-force throw creates.

[1972Shocker]

Very competitive race among the top 6 teams in the Valley at this point

ILS (12-3), WSU (11-4), UNI (11-4), MSU (9-6), SIU (9-6), and EVN (9-6).

BRD (5-10), LOY (3-12), DRK (3-12) and INS (3-12) are for all intents and purposes are possible, but perhaps not likely, spoilers.

Looking at the remaining schedule it looks like the Shocks have the toughest row to hoe. All 4 of their remaining series are against Top 6 teams (MSU, SIU, UNI, EVN).

UNI and MSU have the easiest remaining schedules as they have 2 series against the Top 6 and 2 against the bottom 4. UNI has DRK, LOY, WSU and ILS remaining. MSU has WSU, ILS, DRK and SIU left.

League leader ILS, SIU and EVN each have 3 Top 6 series.

ILS has BRD, MSU, EVN and UNI
SIU has EVN, WSU, INS and MSU
EVN has SIU, INS, ILS and WSU

This looks like it is going to be a very interesting final 3 weeks of the regular season.

[flyingMoose]

Following the weekend's games, the Valley RPIs better :) than 100 are:

Illinois State - 54
Shockers - 61
Northern Iowa - 86

Missouri State and Southern Illinois, the next opponents of the Shockers, are 111 and 113 respectively.


In the AAC, RPIs of note are:

Tulsa - 32
USF - 55
UCF - 65
Memphis - 72