#6 SB Splits at Day 1 of Ragin Cagin Invitational

The Softball Team #37 split 2 games yesterday at the Ragin Cagin Invitational in Lafayette, La.  We just ran out of innings in the first game and lost 8-6 to ULL.  We came back strong in the second game by defeating Memphis 5-0.

Against ULL, the offense was not a problem.  We gathered 6 runs on 11 hits.  Colie continues her hot spring by going 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored.  Romo looks like she is in mid-season form and on her way to All-American Status by going 2 for 2 and 1 RBI dispite getting 3 intentional walks. 

We had difficulty in the circle.  Sara was the strarting pitcher and she went 4 2/3 innings.  She gave up 6 runs (all ER) on 7 hits.  The problem was that she gave up 5 BB with 3 Ks.  Megan Besta came in to relieve Sara and allowed 2 more runs off 1  hit, 2 BB and 1 K.

In SB, walks will ALWAYS come back to hurt you.  The bases are 60 feet apart and SB is such a quick game.  An average pitcher will have a 1.5:1 K/BB ratio.  A good pitcher will have a 2:1 ratio.  An excellent pitcher will have greater than 2:1 ratio.  If a pitcher as 1:1 or worse, it typically spells bad news.

This is because as a player gets a BB, the pitcher needs to strike out the next batter in order to give the defense some help.  Because even if the next batter gets put out, a runner on first will most likely get to second.

Now in SB, runners on second is NOT in scoring position.  We had many a discussion on this board regarding this over the years.  Even some SB announcers will slip-up and call it RISP.  In baseball, a runner on 2nd base has a greater than 80% chance of scoring with a single to the outfield with less than 2 outs.   Whereas in softball, a runner on second has less than 50% chance of scoring with a single to the outfield with less than 2 outs.  Even with 2 outs, the chance of scoring only increases slightly as the runner advances on contact.  The reason is that the outfielder is so much closer and at the D1 level, the outfielders arms are so much better.

In the second game against Memphis, the ladies blanked the Tigers 5-0.  Silo was the hero by going 2 for 4 with a Grand Slam in the 1st.  Lyndsay bounced back by going 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored.  Caitlin wne 2 for 4 with a run scored.  

Haylie was the winning pitcher tossed a three hitter with 9 Ks and 2 BB.  

Overall not a bad day considering it is very early in the season.  Sara will continue to get stronger and Haylie looks good right out of the gate.  We will have another crack at ULL later today so a win against them will shore up the weekend tourney.