Week One Softball Critique

[VObserver]

Having attended all 5 games this weekend, I remain cautiously optimistic about this year's team. Aside from the Seton Hall loss in game one, the results were pretty much what we all should have expected. Even in that loss, we fielded well and our hitters were smashing the ball; just almost always straight at a fielder. Starting pitching was not so good in games 1 and 2, but otherwise was pretty good. Relief pitching was outstanding in every game.
Last weekend's opponents final 2024 RPI:
Texas 1
Longwood 139
Seton Hall 149
GMU 216

The good:
Pitching: Sam Ryan and Mallory Wheeler were both lights out. Ryan gave up 1 earned run in 3.2 innings vs Texas, then had a CG [6 innings] with 0 earned runs in the second Seton Hall game. Wheeler gave up no ER in 3 innings in the Seton Hall loss and 0 runs in .2 innings vs George Mason; then pitched a 7 inning [1ER] CG in the Longwood game. Tyra Clary struggled with control issues in the Seton Hall loss, but pitched very well in the George Mason game [5.1 IP, 1 ER]. For those who may doubt Ryan's ability; her career ERA is 0.81, career WHIP is 1.21 [admittedly the sample size is small].

Defense: 7 DP in 5 games.

Hitting: 6 hitters at or above .400 BA. Ceci Vasquez with 7 RBI, Emily Smith with 5.

The Bad:

Pitching: 8 walks in Seton Hall loss.

Defense: 6 errors in 5 games.

Hitting: 33 runners LOB in 5 games.

The Ugly: The injury to Tyla Clary leaves us with only 3 healthy pitchers on the roster. Those 3 have a total of 30 innings pitched at the D1 level.

Looking forward:

Next weekend we have two games with Ole Miss and single games with Sam Houston, Central Arkansas and Northern Illinois. In final RPI last season Ole Miss was 47, SHSU was 169, UCA was 93 and NIU 256.
SHSU and UCA are decent wins, Ole Miss would be outstanding win[s]. The following week we have a three game series vs Houston [92] and a single game vs Kansas City [185].

For these two weeks, I believe that we must improve our hitting with RISP. The lack of pitching depth is very concerning; though I am pretty confident that Ryan and Wheeler will do fine, if one of them has a bad day, we could be in trouble unless we do significantly improve in the previously mentioned hitting area. If Hoover becomes available and/or Clary is able to return I will be much less concerned about pitching.

[Turbine]

Love the Vermilion Observations.

[SlickRick]

I'm anxious to see more of our Freshmen players on the field and at bat, especially Lilly Knox who would likely be another power hitter in the line-up.

I know we'll see more slap style hitting this season, but what we've seen so far hasn't been that successful. I didn't watch the game against GM or the game against LW, so maybe we had more success in those games?

[JMV JustMyView]

I'm anxious to see more of our Freshmen players on the field and at bat, especially Lilly Knox who would likely be another power hitter in the line-up.

I know we'll see more slap style hitting this season, but what we've seen so far hasn't been that successful. I didn't watch the game against GM or the game against LW, so maybe we had more success in those games?

The short game and base running has been very successful. The Cajuns have created a lot of chaos. Hayden and Falterman are setting the table, just need the RISP hits to happen. Hopefully Knox will be available soon that would be a big help. We just need to get healthy as three of the freshman are on the shelf.

[Turbine]

9,9,8 runs tells me something is happening on the bases.

[CajunT]

Having attended all 5 games this weekend, I remain cautiously optimistic about this year's team. Aside from the Seton Hall loss in game one, the results were pretty much what we all should have expected. Even in that loss, we fielded well and our hitters were smashing the ball; just almost always straight at a fielder. Starting pitching was not so good in games 1 and 2, but otherwise was pretty good. Relief pitching was outstanding in every game.
Last weekend's opponents final 2024 RPI:
Texas 1
Longwood 139
Seton Hall 149
GMU 216

The good:
Pitching: Sam Ryan and Mallory Wheeler were both lights out. Ryan gave up 1 earned run in 3.2 innings vs Texas, then had a CG [6 innings] with 0 earned runs in the second Seton Hall game. Wheeler gave up no ER in 3 innings in the Seton Hall loss and 0 runs in .2 innings vs George Mason; then pitched a 7 inning [1ER] CG in the Longwood game. Tyra Clary struggled with control issues in the Seton Hall loss, but pitched very well in the George Mason game [5.1 IP, 1 ER]. For those who may doubt Ryan's ability; her career ERA is 0.81, career WHIP is 1.21 [admittedly the sample size is small].

Defense: 7 DP in 5 games.

Hitting: 6 hitters at or above .400 BA. Ceci Vasquez with 7 RBI, Emily Smith with 5.

The Bad:

Pitching: 8 walks in Seton Hall loss.

Defense: 6 errors in 5 games.

Hitting: 33 runners LOB in 5 games.

The Ugly: The injury to Tyla Clary leaves us with only 3 healthy pitchers on the roster. Those 3 have a total of 30 innings pitched at the D1 level.

Looking forward:

Next weekend we have two games with Ole Miss and single games with Sam Houston, Central Arkansas and Northern Illinois. In final RPI last season Ole Miss was 47, SHSU was 169, UCA was 93 and NIU 256.
SHSU and UCA are decent wins, Ole Miss would be outstanding win[s]. The following week we have a three game series vs Houston [92] and a single game vs Kansas City [185].

For these two weeks, I believe that we must improve our hitting with RISP. The lack of pitching depth is very concerning; though I am pretty confident that Ryan and Wheeler will do fine, if one of them has a bad day, we could be in trouble unless we do significantly improve in the previously mentioned hitting area. If Hoover becomes available and/or Clary is able to return I will be much less concerned about pitching.

I was able to watch several games this weekend on ESPN Plus. Agree with all of your takes VO. There is one omission on your part, didn't Williams allow a ball to get by her in RF after the pitcher walked several hitters in the first Seton Hall game?

[RaginDave]

Here is my opinion of what I saw this weekend......Emily Smith and Mallory Wheeler have the ability to be really, really good for a long time, if we can keep them.

[SlickRick]

I was able to watch several games this weekend on ESPN Plus. Agree with all of your takes VO. There is one omission on your part, didn't Williams allow a ball to get by her in RF after the pitcher walked several hitters in the first Seton Hall game?

Yes that happened and it gave SH 2 runs.

[Bankruptcyman]

I liked Erin Ardoin in the outfield in either left or right.

[CajunSID]

Anyone notice how the Sun Belt preseason favorite fared this weekend? 0-5 at UCF tournament and hit .171. Conference is wide open.

[RaginDave]

Anyone notice how the Sun Belt preseason favorite fared this weekend? 0-5 at UCF tournament and hit .171. Conference is wide open.

The SBC favorite was Texas State according to www.sunbeltsports.org, they went 2-2 losing to Bradley and Arkansas, they won vs San Diego and Lipscomb. JMU went 0-5, but they were not the preseason favorite according to the conference.

[VObserver]

I was able to watch several games this weekend on ESPN Plus. Agree with all of your takes VO. There is one omission on your part, didn't Williams allow a ball to get by her in RF after the pitcher walked several hitters in the first Seton Hall game?

We had 6 errors in 5 games; a total I would find somewhat disturbing if we hadn't also had 7 double plays, an average of 1.4 per game. Last year we led the nation averaging 0.72 DP per game, and our fielding percentage was.968 [just outside the top 50], compared to our current .960. I can live with that.