Game Thread Lady Vols Softball Team week 10

#80
#80
We've gotten some great pitching, and Geer has been awesome. Need another well-pitched game tomorrow, and I wonder who will start? Back to Moss?

Offensively, we've fallen off a touch what with Geathers in a slump and taking McSwain out of the lineup in favor of McClain. I'm happy McClain has gotten an opportunity, but she needs to show she belongs in the lineup. Not getting a lot out of first base either--Aucoin has been OK, and Lockman still trying to get comfortable. We need Geathers to get back in a groove--she's important. But two nice wins--let's get the third tomorrow!
 
#81
#81
westtnvoljackson said:
Why the hell do you let McClain bat....she had struck out before she got to the plate.
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sccshortstop said:
Just got in and seen the score. Would have helped it could have scored. I said yesterday, today and tomorrow McClain needs to be on the bench. I know according to you guys she did the strike out route, and I would speculate that was not the first one tonite for her. Not trying to be mean or anything but Ralph and who ever can really do some bigtime head scratchers.
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This is the consequence I spoke of earlier of moving Geer to third. McClain is a fine fielder - but she can't hit. McSwain is a poor fielder, but she can hit - at least she did last season. This season she has dropped below .300.

You can only hit for one player with an OP. So if Moss or Gabriel pitches, you can only hit for one of them - the pitcher or McClain. McClain has a lot of speed. She deserves some chances to see what she can do.

So the coaches have these choices:

1-McSwain at 3rd, Geer in center, Gaffin is the OP if she doesn't pitch or play in the field. If Gaffin pitches, Lockman is the OP. This result we've seen. At least two losses were directly the result of McSwain's errors and Lockman's average has dropped below .200.

2-Geer at 3rd, McClain in center, Gaffin is the OP if she doesn't pitch. This is working fine - so far. McClain's inability to hit is exacerbated by Geather's prolonged slump. The bottom of the lineup is right now doing nothing. McClain will get a chance or two and then be pinch hit for.

3-Geer at 3rd, McSwain in center. This solves the problem of who the OP is. McSwain hits for herself, and Gaffin is the OP if she doesn't pitch. But McSwain has not been used in the outfield except in left that I remember. Centerfield is too critical to assign to an inexperienced outfielder who has lost her confidence.

The best solution is for McSwain to get her mojo back at 3rd so Geer can go back to center and Gaffin can be OP for the pitcher. But from what I have seen of Geer, she is a better 3rd baseman than McSwain is. The team is fighting to get inside the top 16 so they can host a regional. Every game is a must.

I can't imagine McSwain trying to field against the Emanuel sisters and their slap-hitting.
 
#82
#82
Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama still in a tie for 3rd place in the SEC with 12-5 records. I thought Missouri might beat Kentucky today but they didn't.

Tennessee has one more game against Georgia, then finishes with Auburn and at Ole Miss.
Kentucky finishes at Alabama then MSU.
Alabama finishes against Kentucky, at South Carolina, then Georgia.
Georgia, one game back in the loss column, finishes at Auburn, Ole Miss, then at Alabama.

Tennessee needs to beat Georgia tomorrow, take at least one from Auburn, and sweep ole Miss and I think if they do that they'll get a top four seed in the SEC tournament and a first round bye.
 
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#83
#83
LVJeff said:
Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama still in a tie for 3rd place in the SEC with 12-5 records. I thought Missouri might beat Kentucky today but they didn't.

Tennessee has one more game against Georgia, then finishes with Auburn and at Ole Miss.
Kentucky finishes at Alabama then MSU.
Alabama finishes against Kentucky, at South Carolina, then Georgia.
Georgia, one game back in the loss column, finishes at Auburn, Ole Miss, then at Alabama.

Tennessee needs to beat Georgia tomorrow, take at least one from Auburn, and sweep ole Miss and I think if they do that they'll get a top four seed in the SEC tournament and a first round bye.
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Wow that's a tough task but doable..do you think they will rest some girls for the Classic or do we need all the wins we can get for a regional?
 
#84
#84
VolnJC said:
Wow that's a tough task but doable..do you think they will rest some girls for the Classic or do we need all the wins we can get for a regional?
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Beating Oklahoma would be huge they're the #1 team in the Big 12 right now
 
#85
#85
governmentmule said:
hopefully the Lady Vols will get the broom out again tomorrow night :)
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If we do sweep mule do we move into the top 10 now? I think we would just swap places with Georgia. We should be #10 while Georgia falls to #17. If we was to lose tomorrow night that's still 2 out of 3 & probably get us up to #12 or #13. What's your thoughts buddy?
 
#86
#86
Very happy for our (young) team; like many posters I felt we had a great shot at winning the series, and now we can sweep this poor GA team tomorrow on prime time. We better go for the jugular and start Matty Moss in the circle tomorrow. No Gaffin, please! (until 5th or 6th inning at least). Moss isn't all that tall but she's built strong and powerful, and boy she can throw some heat or what! 70-71mph on the radar gun yesterday. SMH. That's equivalent to 98-100 mph baseball fastball! Yes. We have an answer for FL's Kelly Barnhill who also throws 70+ mph fastball (and a nasty riseball). Many posters, myself included, have been lobbying for more starts/PT on the behalf of Matty during the past few weeks, and I'm just thrilled and grateful that she has rewarded the fans' faith by coming through for the team on a big stage for a couple times now. The future is very bright. Indeed. Now, if we can get Bria Bush get going too, it'll bolster our already-solid pitching staff even more and make it one of the toughest in the conference. All four pitchers have so much vastly different looks, and it'll be extremely hard to hit off our girls consistently. I have not given up on Bria just yet, and I still firmly believe that she can be effective for us down the stretch -- in right situations, of course.

When Megan Geer signed with us out of high school in Los Alamitos, CA a few yrs back, this kind of impact performance was what the fans in the big orange country envisioned for her. Sure, she had solid first two years on Rocky Top, and was a key part of our past success, but now her breakout junior season is confirming our belief in her all along; Geer is a PTPer! No doubt about it. :) Her fielding at 3B has been very good so far, too. Keep it up Megan. :)

Our bottom of lineup is a bit concern ATM but during a tough stretch run in ultra competitive conference play, some part of batting order is expected to go through some sort of funk. SEC pitching is no joke. Hope the players will get out of it soon, and everyone will be on the same page clicking on all cylinders. Then watch out! (I was a bit surprised and HAPPY when McClain got that infield single off of one hopper. She's a WIP, and maybe she just needs more time/practice swings to mature as a slapper?! My fingers crossed BIG TIME.)

I'm getting my broom out for tomorrow night. #Sweep #RPIBooster #Crunchtime #DontScrewItUpRalph
 
#87
#87
VolnJC said:
Wow that's a tough task but doable..do you think they will rest some girls for the Classic or do we need all the wins we can get for a regional?
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Depends upon whether they need the rest or not. They need wins...they need to finish strong. A regional is within reach and a super-regional is a long shot but if they finish strong with a run in the tournament, it can happen.
 
#88
#88
tonybologna said:
If we do sweep mule do we move into the top 10 now? I think we would just swap places with Georgia. We should be #10 while Georgia falls to #17. If we was to lose tomorrow night that's still 2 out of 3 & probably get us up to #12 or #13. What's your thoughts buddy?
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If they beat Georgia tonight they better move into the top 16. If they don't, I don't know what the pollsters are thinking.
 
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#89
#89
She's no Aubree Munro, and it seems like Lexi Overstreet behind the plate has an average arm for a catcher and her fielding is about slightly above average. It's a difficult task and losing battle to gun down all these base-stealing speedy SEC base runners, but she hasn't thrown out any base runners in over a month from what I've seen. When is the last time we had a catcher who could do that on consistent basis?? Her 3 passed balls already in the series is a cause for concern. Luckily, the errors have not cost us a game so far, but Lexi needs to tighten up her defense or we may end up in a situation that we don't want to end up in. Otherwise, Lexi is a good leader and seems to have good chemistry with our pitchers. She's demonstrated good senior leadership all season long. No, I'm not missing Annie Aldrete at all. :)
 
#90
#90
Has been a pleasant surprise that our pitching has been able to stop the best hitting team in the SEC. I really didn't think 4 and 5 runs scored would end up being wins the pitching has really came through in this series.
 
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#91
#91
Still one game to go. I hope Moss pitches tonight and if she does I hope she shuts them down again. If she does I will feel a lot better about the team's post season chances.
 
#94
#94
I thought they played tonight. Nothing in forum. Traveling again. Is there a game? Score? Thanks .
 
#96
#96
I'm not surprised Moss got the start. I am not even surprised Georgia chased her. I am very surprised Bush came on in relief. I am not surprised Bush got chased. Bush faced 4 batters and gave up 3 runs. I guess the coaches wanted to see what Bush could do in a pressure situation.
 
#97
#97
I said before the series I would be happy with 2 wins so I don't want to go back on that but it was almost like the coaches were "experimenting". Bush pitches for the first time in what seems like forever. Gaffin is back in the outfield. Geathers is on the bench. Lockman at 1st base and DP.

UGA's Wilkinson and Gray combined for a 4-hitter although TN scored 2 runs off those 4 hits.

TN got the series but I feel as if an opportunity was missed. The team didn't respond to the situation and they need as many victories as they can get. Ralph gave the pep-talk business to the girls during the game but the game was over in the bottom of the first inning when Georgia got on the board before TN.
 
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#98
#98
LVJeff said:
I said before the series I would be happy with 2 wins so I don't want to go back on that but it was almost like the coaches were "experimenting". Bush pitches for the first time in what seems like forever. Gaffin is back in the outfield. Geathers is on the bench. Lockman at 1st base and DP.

UGA's Wilkinson and Gray combined for a 4-hitter although TN scored 2 runs off those 4 hits.

TN got the series but I feel as if an opportunity was missed. The team didn't respond to the situation and they need as many victories as they can get. Ralph gave the pep-talk business to the girls during the game but the game was over in the bottom of the first inning when Georgia got on the board before TN.
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Bigger picture Jeff...they will be alright...and it was good to see Bush get in you may see her again against Furman later this week and against some of the other teams we play besides Oklahoma....Moss got bitter by being thrown in the fire...this team will be alright it's all about getting a top 16 seed then trying to get top 8
 
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#99
#99
Vols4life said:
Bigger picture Jeff...they will be alright...and it was good to see Bush get in you may see her again against Furman later this week and against some of the other teams we play besides Oklahoma....Moss got bitter by being thrown in the fire...this team will be alright it's all about getting a top 16 seed then trying to get top 8
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Well, after taking 2 of 3 from Georgia we should now at least be ranked #12-#13. I wished we could have finished the sweep because that would probably have put us into the top 10 but we still have games left to play.
 
#100
#100
Jeff I also posted we should get at least 2 and several felt Georgia was the better team, which I did not. They were better tonite. We kind of looked out of sync. Maybe Bush has lost her confidence but I still am afraid she will never be an SEC pitcher. Need to take care of the cupcakes and get Oklahoma at home. I still think we get 2 from Auburn as well. Who knows but that is why they play the game.
 
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