vs. Baylor

[j2d2]

Paige isnt sharp. ?Several badpitches and looks slow. Lauren has struck out twice but she at least is swinging. Several others' bats are resting comfortably on their shoulders watching strikes.

 

[sybarite]

We are swinging at the rise. When we do that, we don't hit. We tend to strike out or hit fly balls. We must have had three foul pops that were caught, swinging under it.

Stearns is changing speeds, and it is the off-speed stuff that is killing us. We are popping out on the rise, or swinging through the changeups. She has changeups at two different speeds, and we aren't meeting any of them. Lack of discipline in the stroke tonight.

Paige is having mild control problems, and Baylor is taking advantage of it. This is as good as Baylor can play.

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

We are swinging at the rise. When we do that, we don't hit. We tend to strike out or hit fly balls. We must have had three foul pops that were caught, swinging under it.

Stearns is changing speeds, and it is the off-speed stuff that is killing us. We are popping out on the rise, or swinging through the changeups. She has changeups at two different speeds, and we aren't meeting any of them. Lack of discipline in the stroke tonight.

Paige is having mild control problems, and Baylor is taking advantage of it. This is as good as Baylor can play.

You start to wonder. Will we ever beat Baylor at anything? I mean we are not even competitive.

Do we play tiddlywinks maybe?

 

[sybarite]

We'll probably take two of three, like we did in Waco last year against a better pitcher.

 

[BlackwellSooner]

They run-ruled us, 8-0. I belatedly realized that the Sooners were playing tonight, so was late tuning in. Thought that the first game of the 3 game series was tomorrow night, not tonight...:facepalm

Oh well, it is one game, we'll get them tomorrow or Saturday if we don't get rained out.

 

[Stringmusic]

Paige was off or not totally on - the whole team was not on - very flat and very distracted. We are a much better team than what we saw and we will get them.

 

[SoonerNorm]

The game last night was pretty simple. They hit our pitchers, we couldn't hit theirs. The good news is, it was just one game.

 

[BlackwellSooner]

In my opinion, in the game of softball, more than any other sport, the outcome is determined by good pitching. Last night, as Norm says, our pitcher didn't really have her good stuff, and theirs had an outstanding night, totally handcuffing our normally hard-hitting lineup.

Even with all of that, we wasted a couple of scoring opportunities early in the game: in the second, our leadoff batter Miller reached via a single, but was wiped out on a stolen base attempt. Credit the Baylor catcher, maybe, but possibly Miller didn't get a good jump on the attempt? Anyway, we then wasted another leadoff batter reaching in the next inning when Casey also led off with a single. Again, we could not advance her, as she was wiped out on a fielder's choice. Against great pitching, every opportunity has to be taken advantage of...

Hopefully, the weather will cooperate to allow us another crack at Stearns. I doubt that she could repeat last night's performance.

 

[j2d2]

This is not the first time that we failed to hit a good riseball pitcher. Remember Alabama? And 3 or 4 other times when it took us a while to learn to hit (somewhat) such a pitcher.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Patty doesn't bunt runners over very often. When you are going against a tough pitcher, I like to see us advance the runner and get them in scoring position because runs can be hard to come by.

 

[scrybe]

It's amazing how a pitcher (Paige) can completely dominate a good-hitting team in a three-game series, then a few days later look so much different against another solid lineup. But it happens. I predict Paige will come back with a vengeance before the weekend series is over.

On Lauren's struggles last night: I believe it can be attributed, in part, to the homerun chase. It seems like Lauren is pressing a little, and how could she not be with all the attention she's getting and the pressure she's almost certainly feeling? But you've got to give some credit to the Baylor pitcher. Stearns was really on her game last night. I think it's likely that Shelby would have struck out three times too, if she'd gotten one more at-bat.

I expect we'll see Pendley in the circle to start game two. And maybe Stevens will enter if Shelby runs into trouble somewhere along the way. Paige will likely get the nod in game three. JMO.

 

[BlackwellSooner]

It's amazing how a pitcher (Paige) can completely dominate a good-hitting team in a three-game series, then a few days later look so much different against another solid lineup. But it happens. I predict Paige will come back with a vengeance before the weekend series is over.

On Lauren's struggles last night: I believe it can be attributed, in part, to the homerun chase. It seems like Lauren is pressing a little, and how could she not be with all the attention she's getting and the pressure she's almost certainly feeling? But you've got to give some credit to the Baylor pitcher. Stearns was really on her game last night. I think it's likely that Shelby would have struck out three times too, if she'd gotten one more at-bat.

I expect we'll see Pendley in the circle to start game two. And maybe Stevens will enter if Shelby runs into trouble somewhere along the way. Paige will likely get the nod in game three. JMO.

I disagree regarding the starting pitcher for our next game - it will be either Paige again or Shelby. I don't think that Stevens gets another start or even mop-up except in a game that is already a lost cause, as happened last night.

Softball pitchers rarely need a day's rest, and especially not after onlu working four innings, like last night.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I disagree regarding the starting pitcher for our next game - it will be either Paige again or Shelby. I don't think that Stevens gets another start or even mop-up except in a game that is already a lost cause, as happened last night.

Softball pitchers rarely need a day's rest, and especially not after onlu working four innings, like last night.

That would be my guess as well.

 

[scrybe]

I disagree regarding the starting pitcher for our next game - it will be either Paige again or Shelby. I don't think that Stevens gets another start or even mop-up except in a game that is already a lost cause, as happened last night.

Softball pitchers rarely need a day's rest, and especially not after onlu working four innings, like last night.

That would be my guess as well.

LOL. You guys might try re-reading my post – and a little more carefully this time.

 

[BlackwellSooner]

I expect we'll see Pendley in the circle to start game two.

Actually, I was disagreeing on two different counts:

I do NOT think that Pendley starts game two, I think that it is Paige. Shelby may relieve if Paige runs into trouble, AND I don't see Stevens in anything other than a mop-up role, either with us way ahead or way behind.

Your post that I disagreed with, concerned that Pendley would be starting game 2, and Paige coming in for game 3. - As I said, softball pitchers typically do not NEED a game off between games.

Those of you who are local (Norman/OKC) - - does it look like we will be able to play tonight? Weather.com indicates 0% until 7 pm, then it jumps to 25%.

 

[BlackwellSooner]

My cable company does not carry FSN or FSok in their cable lineup... hopefully syb or someone can furnish a PBP tonight, weather permitting the game's being played.

 

[sybarite]

When I watch, as I will tonight, I am in a different room from my computer. Hence, no PBP.

 

[BlackwellSooner]

OK, thanks syb. I guess it is over to SoonerSports's PBP...

 

[BlackwellSooner]

Sooners score 3 in the bottom of the first, 3-0. Two HBP, single and a double....

Early indications are that Stearns may not be as sharp as she was last night.

Is there anyplace that you can watch GameStats / Gamewatcher (not sure what it's called). SoonerSports is OK, would prefer something more interactive...

 

[sybarite]

Other than livestats, no.

Casey smoked that three-run double in the first.

Shelby killed an inside pitch over the right field bleachers with Wodach on second. 5-0 after two. Stearns isn't changing speeds as well.