Second game vs. Kansas

[j2d2]

The third hottest hitting team in the US just got handcuffed by a pitcher who had won ZERO games and lost five without breaking a sweat. I have no idea what she was throwing. Not rise balls, not speed, not curves, not changeups. It must have been a little of everything but none of it was obvious. We left the game on base because of no clutch hitting. With people on base we either pop it up or ground out without the runner(s) advancing. Kelsey started and pitched well but got the hook quickly and Chestnut came in. She is becoming a good reliever. For about three innings Kelsey looked like the Kelsey of old.

 

[SoonerSpock]

Kelsey looked great the first two innings and her pitch count was 19 strikes and 5 balls (79% strikes). She started the third inning throwing 4 strikes then hit the batter with her 5th pitch. After the hit batsman with 0-2 count Patty immediately sent Chestnut and Parker to the bullpen to warm up. Kelsey threw 19 strikes and 27 balls after hitting the batter. (41% strikes). Kelsey did not throw the ball well in either the 3rd or 4th innning.

Chestnut came on looked good not great throwing 74% strikes, giving up 1 earned run and walking 1 in 3.2 inning.

 

[Sooner Cal]

We left a lot of runners on base, a couple of innings we left the bases loaded. Just couldn't get the hits at key times. It happens.

Pitching is the issue on this team. When Page is on, she's tough. I think her knee brace is still having an impact on her control. Kelsey is pitching better than a year ago, but still hasn't rebounded to her first season performance. The freshmen show promise, but they haven't adjusted to the better hitting in the college game.

If Page and Kelsey continues to improve, this team can beat most anybody. They are confident in their hitting which keeps them always a threat to explode in the last inning, as they did in game 1 Friday night.