SOFTBALL THREAD - game 1 @ South Carolina

[BulldogBear]

Here we go. Gotta win or sweep this series for momentum going into SEC Tournament. I don't have a lineup yet but will post as soon as I get one.

[BulldogBear]

Okay, here's the lineup

1218 2B Julia Echols

1219 C Katie Anne Bailey

1220 3B Caroline Seitz

1221 DP Mackenzie Toler

1222 P Alexis Silkwood

[BulldogBear]

And the rest:

1223 RF Katie Gentle

1224 SS Kayla Winkfield

1225 CF Loryn Nichols

1226 LF Amanda Ivy

1227 1B Erica Gaul

For those who love #meddler, note that while there are some adjustments made for matchups and such, this lineup usually looks about the same. Good job Vann.

[BulldogBear]

Unfortunately I might not be able to give much in the way of updates for a few innings, but we are underway

[BulldogBear]

USCe in black trousers and white tops. We're wearing maroon tops and nice white pants with maroon leggings. Girls lookin' good!

And looks like white helmets.

[BulldogBear]

1228

Julia Echols leads off with a single

No outs, runner on 1B

[BulldogBear]

1229

Katie Anne Bailey

Advances runner but thrown out 2-3

1 out, runner on 2B

[BulldogBear]

1230

Caroline Seitz

grounder to SS but mishandled

1 down, runners at corners

[BulldogBear]

1231

Mackenzie Toler

K

2 out, runners at corners

Gotta get one across or waste this effort

[BulldogBear]

1232

Alexis Silkwood

K

Chased one waaaaaay outside

After one frame, still no score. Bulldogs strand two.

[BulldogBear]

Bottom of 1st inning

USCe leadoff batter got on. I missed how.

[BulldogBear]

Second batter out on a 1-3 bleeder but advances runner

1 out, runner at 2B

[BulldogBear]

Line drive base hit to CF scores the runner

SC leads 1-0

1 down, runner at 1B

[BulldogBear]

F-8 to Nichols

2 down, runner at 1B

[BulldogBear]

Runner caught stealing. Good kill by Bailey from the behind the plate.

After 1 inning, USCe ahead 1-0

[BulldogBear]

Top of 2nd inning

1233

Katie Gentle

Grounds out 1-3

1 down

[BulldogBear]

1234

Kayla Winkfield

infield single!!! Looks like USCe thought it would roll foul

1 out, runner on 1B

[BulldogBear]

Winkfield steals 2nd

1 out, runner at 2B

[BulldogBear]

1235

Loryn Nichols

pulls bunt back just in time to walk

1 out, runners on 1B and 2B

[BulldogBear]

1236

Amanda Ivy

tries to bunt for a hit, but out 1-3

2 outs, runners at 2B and 3B

top of order coming up

[BulldogBear]

1237

Julia Echols

ground out 4-3

stranded four thru two innings but no score. USCe still ahead 1-0

[BulldogBear]

Bottom of 2nd inning

Leadoff batter grounds out 6-3

1 out

[BulldogBear]

K, first of night for Silkwood

2 down

[BulldogBear]

Bloop hit to short RF

2 outs, Gamehen on 1B

[BulldogBear]

5-3 grounder to Sietz ends the inning

After 2, Hens lead 1-0

[BulldogBear]

Top of 3rd inning

1238

Katie Anne Bailey

grounds out 5-3

1 out

[BulldogBear]

1239

Caroline Seitz

Nice opposite field hit

1 down, Seitz on 1B

[BulldogBear]

1240

Mackenzie Toler

out on FC 4-3, no play at 2nd

2 down, Seitz at 2B

[BulldogBear]

1241

Alexis Silkwood

HBP

2 outs, Doggies on 1B and 2B

[BulldogBear]

1242

Katie Gentle

RBI double to the fence!

Seitz scores, Silkwood thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

After 2.5 innings, game is tied 1-1

[BulldogBear]

Bottom of 3rd inning

Leadoff batter out on hard hit 4-3 play

1 down, top of order coming up for Hens

[BulldogBear]

Base hit to LF

1 out, Hen on 1B

[BulldogBear]

Silkwood loud tonight. Maybe the field is miked better than usual?

[BulldogBear]

4-1 BB

Both the last two were awful close

1 down, runners on 1B and 2B

[BulldogBear]

Softball has some wierd sub rules. You can leave the game and come back once. One of the things it allows is so that you can be pinch run for but return for your next at bat.

[BulldogBear]

Silkwood good play on a high bounce, gets batter at 1b

2 outs, runners at 2B and 3B

[BulldogBear]

Good play by Seitz, 6-3 ends the inning and strands two Hens.

After 3 innings, ballgame tied 1-1

[BulldogBear]

Top of 4th inning

Infield crowding in for Winkfield

1243

Kayla Winkfield

3-2 count

[BulldogBear]

Winkfield battles but strikes out swinging

1 out

[BulldogBear]

1244

Loryn Nichols

3-2 count, another battle

[BulldogBear]

Safe at 1st. 3rd baseman boots a slap down the line. Scored as a hit!!

1 out, Nichols on 1B

[BulldogBear]

Nickie Blue is pitching for SC

1246

Asking for new ball

Lead nation and SEC in saves last season

[BulldogBear]

Nichols steals 2nd, ball gets away into CF. Nichols goes to 3B. Speed kills.

1 out, runner on 3B

[BulldogBear]

1247

Amanda Ivy

flies out, Nichols tags and "scores." But alas, although she beat the throw and tag, she failed to get a hand on the plate and is subsequently tagged out again.

Still 1-1 at the halfway point

[BulldogBear]

Grounder

SS got feet tangle in baseline with runner coming from 2nd. I don't understand how that's not interference.

In effect, runner trips Winkfield so she can't make play.

No outs, bases loaded.

[BulldogBear]

The only thing I might argue against interference is that happened behind the runner rather than in front, but they did get tangled.

[BulldogBear]

Vann just tossed the clipboard and she's ejected!!!

She stayed calm for a while on a long discussion but something set her off!!!!!!

[BulldogBear]

Double PLAY!!!!

3-2-4, got runner at plate and 1st

2 down, runners at 2B and 3B

[BulldogBear]

2 RBi hit gives SC 3-1 lead

[BulldogBear]

Triple scores another

USCe 4, MSU 1

2 down, runner on 3B

[BulldogBear]

Crap.

Good play by Echols, good dive. I though she caught line drive but ball came out. Runner beat throw and run scores. Four runs with 2 outs.

Hens lead 5-1

Bulldogs talking at mound/circle

[BulldogBear]

Backward K to end the inning. Good job Silkwood.

After four innings, South Carolina leads 5-1

Top of order coming up for us.

The late innings are where we thrive!!!

[BulldogBear]

Top of 5th inning

1248

Julia Echols

Beautiful line drive diving catch by second baseman. Snakebit tonight.

1 down

[BulldogBear]

1249

Katie Anne Bailey

running grab by right fielder

2 down

Sigh. Though that would be in corner.

[BulldogBear]

1250

Caroline Seitz

F-7 in foul territory by fence

First time tonight, Bulldogs are retired in order on 3 ridiculous defensive plays. I wonder if it's just not in the cards tonight.

[BulldogBear]

Bottom of 5th inning

Jeez, this plate is about 3 inches wide. If it don't hit the catcher in the chest, it ain't called.

[BulldogBear]

Leadoff hit

No outs, runner on 1st

Most early offense for USCe all season. Of course it happens against us.

[BulldogBear]

1251

Holly Ward in to pitch

[BulldogBear]

F-9, Gentle with the play

1 down, Hen on 1B

[BulldogBear]

3-2 count

Bailey having to stretch for a bunch of these. I'm worried about some later wild pitches. She's just a freshman though. She'll get better

And there's another strike 3 called ball 4

1 down, Hens on 1B and 2B

17 these Umps tonight

[BulldogBear]

Finally, a backwards K

2 outs, Hens at 1B and 2B

Get us out of this Ward!!!

[BulldogBear]

BB

2 down, bases juiced

[BulldogBear]

Nichols makes the F-8 play to end the inning despite a late jump!

5-1 USCe after 5 played.

[BulldogBear]

Top of 6th inning

1252

Mackenzie Toler

4-3 chopper

1 out

[BulldogBear]

1253

Morgan Bell

Batting in Silkwood's spot. I think she's playing 1B

Base hit to RF

1 out, Bell on 1B

[BulldogBear]

1254

Katie Gentle

slow roller 5-3 advances runner

2 down, Bell on 2B

[BulldogBear]

1255

Kayla Winkfield

grounder 6-3 and we strand yet another runner in scoring position

Tough night

[BulldogBear]

Bottom of 6th inning

HR staight away center. What else can go wrong? South Carolina 6, Miss. State 1

[BulldogBear]

6-3 grounder

1 out

[BulldogBear]

4-3 grounder

2 down

[BulldogBear]

That home run broke the record for the most in a season for USCe. I hate being somebody else's achievement.

[BulldogBear]

2 out base hit

Hen on 1B

[BulldogBear]

Grounder sneaks thru to CF

2 down, Hens at corners

Bulldogs talking at mound/circle

[BulldogBear]

3-2 count, long at bat

[BulldogBear]

BB

Bases loaded. Again.

2 outs

[BulldogBear]

Next batter went down looking to Ward last time up.

[BulldogBear]

Grounder 4-3, play made by Echols. Inning over with SC leading 6-1

Last chance coming up! We've done it before!

[BulldogBear]

Top of 7th inning


1256

Loryn Nichols

Can't beat out a 6-3 play

1 down

[BulldogBear]

1257

Amanda Ivy

F-4 in RF. Hen was on her horse for the tough running grab. Defense ridiculous tonight.

2 down

[BulldogBear]

1258

Julia Echols

Base hit to LF

2 down, Echols on 1B

Still alive!

[BulldogBear]

1259

Katie Anne Bailey

Base hit gets through as SS dives and misses

2 down, Bulldogs on 1B and 2B

Doggies aren't going away yet!!

[BulldogBear]

1260

Caroline Seitz (13 HR this season)

3-0 count

[BulldogBear]

RBI!!!!!!

Base hit. SS flagged down the ball but backhand through missed 2B

Cuts lead to 6-2, scoring Echols

2 outs, Bailey on 2B, Seitz on 1B

Toler coming up

[BulldogBear]

1261

Mackenzie Toler

3-0 count!

[BulldogBear]

3-2

Update: Still hanging in there!! Long battle.

[BulldogBear]

BB

2 down, bases full of doggies!

[BulldogBear]

1262

Madison Arroyo pinch running at 1st for Toler

[BulldogBear]

1263

Morgan Bell

HBP scores a run. SC lead cut to 6-3

Five straight reach base after two outs.

2 outs, bases juiced

[BulldogBear]

1265

Ashley Phillips to pinch run at 1st for Bell

[BulldogBear]

1266

Katie Gentle

Dang!!!! Strike 3.

[BulldogBear]

Final:

South Carolina 6, Mississippi State 3




We just dropped to 9-13 in SEC play as USCe rises to 9-13. Got our work cut out for us now.

If we lose this series and go out in game 1 of SEC tournament play, I'm not sure we make postseason.

[Bothrops]

Few players short of being good. Maybe the new facility can help us recruit.

[Quaoarsking]

Final:

South Carolina 6, Mississippi State 3




We just dropped to 9-13 in SEC play as USCe rises to 9-13. Got our work cut out for us now.

If we lose this series and go out in game 1 of SEC tournament play, I'm not sure we make postseason.

I don't really know either way, but Vann has never had a winning SEC record (including an 8-16 year), and still hasn't missed the NCAA Tournament, so if our RPI is still pretty good, I assume we'll still make it.