Game Thread Lady Vols Softball Team NCAA Regionals

#303
#303
Yep ...no sweat ...but only if they can bring in some ringer right handed hitters from Auburn,Florida or Bama ....they have some of those types.
 
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#304
#304
We don't have the pitching--or right-hand hitting--to win three games, I'm afraid. We're paying the price of losing the lsu game, which we should have won. That loss resulted in us having to play 'zona, which is a better team than we've faced in a regional in quite some time, I think.
 
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#305
#305
The Arizona pitcher was studying the scouting report between innings, very focused. Our position players were seen on camera standing in the dugout preoccupied with whatever candy they were pulling out of a small box...:salute:
 
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#306
#306
If we even beat OSU, our reward is getting to face Arizona again when we have shown twice that we have no answer for their left-handed pitcher. OSU might be a little more motivated.
 
#307
#307
LA Vol said:
If we even beat OSU, our reward is getting to face Arizona again when we have shown twice that we have no answer for their left-handed pitcher. OSU might be a little more motivated.
Click to expand...

Our only hope is a different home plate ump! The one today obviously had never mastered the art of consistency before graduating from umpire school!:wink2:
 
#308
#308
The Weeklys need to find/develop a couple of right-handed hitters for next year. Lockman's poor year has hurt; even if she improves, we'll need at least one other good right hander to go with her and Geer.

Pitching is another issue for next year: we will have only one returning pitcher with experience--Moss. I imagine that incoming prospect Arnold will be given every opportunity to be a rotation regular. And maybe Bush will come on, or somebody else.
 
#309
#309
Don't count Marist out yet for our elimination game tomorrow. However, it is likely we will be facing OSU. I think we'll win that game & then we will be forced to beat Arizona twice.

Can it be done? Possibly but not likely with O' Toole as the lefty that we'll have to face at least one of those 2 games. If they throw somebody else 1st game & we were to win no doubt she will pitch 2nd game. She's just nasty. She has 4 great pitches. Her best one though is that really nasty changeup.

We just don't have any right handed hitters to handle that. I'm sure the Weekly's will try a different lineup of some sort against Arizona if we face them again but no way we beat them twice I don't think.

I wonder who we will start in the elimination game tomorrow at noon? I'd say we have to go back to Gabriel to start since Matty threw the most pitches today. Wait, Gabriel threw the 1st game & then came in towards the end of this last game.

Gabriel would have thrown more pitches than Matty. Matty will probably get the start. She looks to be pitching better than Gabriel anyhow. Boy, we miss Gaffin terribly for both pitching & hitting. We only have 2 pitchers period to put into games.

Would we give Bush a shot? Highly doubt it but we need another pitcher to provide something. These girls(Gabriel & Moss) arms are getting bashed. It's not good on their arms to be forced to play like this because of the rainout. To win this region now we have to win 3 games tomorrow so either Gabriel or Moss would have to start in 2 of them. Both of their arms I believe are already tired. Not looking good. We might not even make it past the elimination game tomorrow but I think our hitting comes through for that 1st game tomorrow.

If that happens, I would guess we lose the next game to Arizona. We have a chance though if they decide not to pitch O' Toole the 1st game against us. They might do that because she threw a lot of pitches today. They might rest her that few extra hours in case they need her for a final game. It doesn't matter. If we are going to make a comeback & win this region we will have to face her again.

Did she pitch against us back in February when they beat us 1-0? I can't remember. If so, that's 2 shutouts for her against us this season already. The last one today a 1 hitter. Wonder how many hits we had back in the February game?
 
#310
#310
Yes, i think it was O'Toole who shut us out 0-1 earlier in the year. And here's the kicker: correct me if I'm wrong, but I think 'zona's second pitcher is a lefty too. I suspect that if we win the elimination game, we'll face zona's second pitcher in the first game--but their coach might also just want to go with O'Toole again.
 
#311
#311
Digging out of the losers bracket will be a tall order. It wasn't like we fought back today. Arizona has beaten us twice, and we just don't seem to have an answer. I would like to think the LVs are a strong, determined team, motivated for a comeback, but I'm just not sure that's the case. I'm not even sure we'll beat OSU, if they get past Marist. But... there's always that sliver of hope.
 
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#312
#312
armchair said:
Yes, i think it was O'Toole who shut us out 0-1 earlier in the year. And here's the kicker: correct me if I'm wrong, but I think 'zona's second pitcher is a lefty too. I suspect that if we win the elimination game, we'll face zona's second pitcher in the first game--but their coach might also just want to go with O'Toole again.
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I'm not sure who there 2nd pitcher is. If she is a lefty then we probably won't win that game either. I'm like you though, I just feel that their coach will rest O' Toole for a final game if needed instead of starting her the 1st game against us tomorrow. That's assuming we win the elimination game of course.
 
#313
#313
It wont matter if she throws side armed. It took us a while to do away with a less talented pitcher and Marist team. I am not a fair weather fan but I would be surprised if we get through the losers bracket whether we score off Arizona. Our offense is certainly offensive as it has been in about all big games all year. Oklahoma all over again today. Girls looked ragged and scared. Just my 2 cents worth!
 
#315
#315
Overall the loss of Gaffin was huge, I agree from a mental standpoint especially. We really have not looked good in all three phases of the game since Auburn. We beat a good OM team on the road 2 of 3 but did not look tourney ready. I know everyone wants to think we have two pretty good pitchers, however I think Moss is the best of the 2 Erin tends to get herself in a jam within the first 3 innings with a walk or just lack of concentration. Neither of our pitchers would be the ace of any team in the SEC with the exception of maybe MState. Ralph knows that pitching is the key to wins. Left hand pitchers is the ideal choice in my opinion. I would recruit every year a lefty or at least try. They may very well be trying. Arizona got maybe O'toole or the other lefty from San Diago state as a transfer. I cannot remember a transfer that has helped us at all and certainly not a pitcher.

Our downfall happened when the NCAA people put Arizona in our bracket!!
 
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#317
#317
I don't know who said it but the loss to LSU when we should have won was big for our post season. We win that game and we have a chance to beat Auburn in the SEC championship. Can't repeat enough how pivotal that at bat of Geer's was.
 
#318
#318
Sandvol said:
I don't know who said it but the loss to LSU when we should have won was big for our post season. We win that game and we have a chance to beat Auburn in the SEC championship. Can't repeat enough how pivotal that at bat of Geer's was.
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Can't believe some of you still are blaming Geer for losing that game. It was one AB. There was others that didn't use the bat either the entire game.

Another player whom I can't remember right now also kept the bat on her shoulder except for one pitch & struck out too. I'll say it again. Geer DID NOT cost us that game!
 
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#319
#319
Does anybody know which Network/station we play OSU on tomorrow at noon? Surely it will be carried by TV but I wouldn't be surprised if they placed this game on ESPN3(online only).
 
#320
#320
Hopefully we beat Ohio State today. I don't like losing to them in anything. Then have to beat a team twice that we haven't scored a run on in 14 innings played. They lost 19 games yet we can't even score a run on them.
 
#321
#321
We've been terrible against the left-handed pitchers we've face this year--did Oklahoma have one too? The Weeklys loaded up on a left-handed lineup which is wonderful against 80 percent of the pitchers you face but leaves you vulnerable to good lefties. We see the problem. We've got ONE good right-handed hitter in the lineup in Geer. Not enough. McSwain is decent but hasn't even been playing regularly, and McClain is a switch hitter--not sure what her best side is, but she played very little all year. Lockman is a righty hitter but has struggled and did not play most of last half of season. Our lefties need to stand in the box, not bail, and hit.

The coaches also got caught out on pitching with Gaffin's injury--and next year pitching will be an issue too as we'll have only one with any experience. You gotta have three dependable pitchers.
 
#323
#323
Taylor McQuillin, 5-8 freshman lefty pitcher who may pitch against Tennessee should TN make to the Regional Final later today. Saw McQuillin warming up in the bullpen next to Danille O'Toole before the game. Don't know how she's done this year but looks as though McQuiallin had a decorated prep career in California and was a highly regarded prospect before moving on to Arizona. When I saw the two lefties warming up, my immediate thought was, "Double Trouble. Candrea is a smart coach.." O'Toole had a presence about her and looked very focused and determined. Oh well..

armchair, I don't know where you get that idea of McSwain being a switch hitter?! Never heard of that before...

I think TN will beat OH St. If Erin pithes, being an Ohio native, with so much on the line, she should be highly/extra motivated. But, after getting past OSU, I'm afraid we'll lose to Arizona. Like many of you, I just don't see how this lefty-dominant lineup which has looked awful against good lefty pitchers all season, can beat the combo of O'Toole & McQuillin twice. It's just not gonna happen. It's a pity since I believe TN can give Auburn a better matchup in the super regional than AZ. AZ IMO is not a good matchup against Auburn, and I think Auburn will beat AZ rather easily.

It's been a good year. I've enjoyed watching and supporting my Lady Vols. A lot to look forward to during the off season. But before that I will be in the stands cheering them on against OSU and 'Zona. #BeatOSU #BeatZonaTwice #RoadToWCWS
 
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#324
#324
He said McClain is a switch hitter which she is, however she is a righty hitter and they have tried to make her a slap hitter from the left side because of her speed. Really has not picked that art up yet!
 
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