Shocker Softball at Carolina Classic (Chapel Hill, NC)

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers take on Cal and host North Carolina on Friday and Penn State and George Washington on Saturday.

Cal is a preseason 6th place pick (of eight teams) in the Pac-10 and is currently ranked 6th in the NFCA poll and 9th in the ESPN poll.

North Carolina is the preseason favorite in the ACC and is currently ranked 22nd and RV(26th).

Penn State was 2-2 at the Kajikawa Classic with no common opponents with the Shocks. Apparently the Big 10 does not believe in preseason polls.

George Washington opens their season at the tournament, and the Atlantic 10 is AWOL poll-wise too.

Hmmm, I had forgotten about Cal - this may be a tougher tournament than last week.

[1972Shocker]

Chapel Hill weekend weather forecast:

http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/weekend/USNC0120?from=36hr_topnav_allergies

May have to dodge some rain drops on Saturday. Friday and Sunday look OK. Hopefully, the can get all thier game in.

[flyingMoose]

There has been a change in the schedule of the Carolina Classic - the George Washington game is now on Sunday. Maybe the weather possibilities that '72 noted?

[1972Shocker]

Hopefully, spreading the 4 games over 3 days will be beneficial to our ptiching staff.

I looking forward to seeing how our young arms come back from a tough start last weekend in Tempe.

If nothing else the air will probably be much heavier in Chapel Hill than it was in the desert.

I'll take another 2-2 performance this weekend, especially if we can be more effective with our pitching.

:goshocks:

[flyingMoose]

Unfortunately with the tournament schedule, we are likely to get the aces from both Cal and North Carolina on Friday. We are Cal's only opponent and UNC plays the Shocks and then George Washington.

But I agree on the 2-2.

[flyingMoose]

Kasha starts for the Shocks against Cal ... and issues a lead-off walk. Pooch shakes up the lineup a little - Lauren Coleman starts at 3B and Kersti Rowan is in LF.

Kasha gives up a two-out two-run jack. Cal up 2-0 with the Shocks coming to bat.

[1972Shocker]

Kasha gets a strike out for the 2nd out then gives up a 2-run tater.

:(

[flyingMoose]

Kiersten has a single in the bottom of the first for our only baserunner. Then Kasha sets down 7-8-9 in order with two Ks. Bottom of the second coming up. And we strike out three times. The Cal pitcher has 5 Ks after two innings.

[flyingMoose]

Interesting top of the third. After a fly out, a three-base error on Kiersten and a groundout, Breezy comes into face the girl who hit the homer - and gets a groundout for a scoreless top of the third.

[flyingMoose]

In the bottom of the third, Lindsie gets a two-out infield single and steals second. Kiersten follows with another infield single, but Lindsie is thrown out at the plate attempting to score from second on the play. Cal, 2-0 after three complete.

[flyingMoose]

In the fourth, Breezy gives up a single, but the runner is erased on a 6-4-3 DP. We get two runners with a single and a walk, but cannot score. Still 2-0, going to the fifth.

[WuDrWu]

Breezy's in a jam, 2 on nobody out.

[WuDrWu]

Pooch to the pen with the sacks loaded and 2 down.

[flyingMoose]

Two singles and a walk and Cal loads the bases with two outs. Jamie is in to pitch. She gets a groundout and we are out of the jam.

Lauren leads off the bottom half with a single, but three strike outs later, we go to the top of the sixth.

[WuDrWu]

Jamie's in trouble with 2 on and 0 out in the top of the 6th......


It's her baby now....the pen is empty.