Others are more on top of this then I, but thought I'd get some team stats online to see what they say. Here we go:
| Records | VT | UF |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 45-8 | 46-16 |
| Home | 16-3 | 24-11 |
| Away | 19-5 | 16-5 |
| Neutral | 10-0 | 6-0 |
| Conference | 21-2 | 13-11 |
| Nonconference | 24-6 | 33-5 |
| Post season | 4-1 | 3-0 |
...
| Rankings | VT | UF |
|---|---|---|
| RPI | 2 | 13 |
| NonConf RPI | 1 | 14 |
| SOS | 6 | 17 |
| NonConf SOS | 1 | 47 |
...
| Record vs RPI Teams | VT | UF |
|---|---|---|
| 1-25 | 13-6 | 13-11 |
| 26-50 | 7-1 | 11-3 |
| 51-100 | 19-1 | 3-1 |
| 101-200 | 3-0 | 10-1 |
| 201+ | 3-0 | 9-0 |
Quick summary of what stands out to me:
UF had 35 games at home vs 21 away. For VT only 19 home and 24 away. Wow, big edge to VT w super regional in Blacksburg.
Conference record, and with VT with more away games and SOS strength, this seems big advantage to VT.
RPI and SOS # deltas are huge. Advantage VT.
RPI opponents shows UF played way more teams with RPI greater than 100.
Its science, VT will win!!!
[Mod edit: added embedded table]
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Comments
So it's not just the football team that doesn't like to leave the state
Looks like the baseball team follows the SEC football scheduling guidelines for out of conference matchups....soft, marshmallowy, and at home.
https://floridagators.com/sports/softball/stats
They are fast, don't hit as many long balls as UK. Odds are they'll be aggressive trying to steal, Mack will be a pivotal part of this series I think.
Based on this comment I went and looked at UF vs UK head to head games
They played each other one game, @ Kentucky. UF won 9-4.
So, there isn't much to go from there.
Think the top of the order based on BA is slightly less than UK's top of the order. You had several girls over .400. UF doesn't have anyone batting @ or over that. UF and KU only met once in the SEC tournament this year. So, not much to go off on that either. Bats gotta get started early, pitching has to be as good as it has been, and we score more runs than them. Problem solved. Will be a tough series I'm sure. But these girls will be ready. Excited for this series.
Please.
Edit: As in please win. Forever.
Yeah, Joe has this prejudice against multiple spaces. Even the perfectly normal double space following a period.
When you get a chance, put the table in table form. You can put it in excel or google sheets and copy into an csv-html converter or just embed the google sheets or just screenshot the spreadsheet.
Or just view source and copy this:
...
...
Thnx. Camping in Townsend, TN, no access to tools, so, did what i could.
I embedded this in the body of the OP. Big thanks for sharing it!!
Thnx! Our airstream has a lot and is comfortable (especially in 2 inches of rain today), but i dont take my computer on vacation. Thats a no-no.
Big believer in two spaces at the end of the sentence.
As someone who doesn't normally pay attention to college softball/baseball, what is the reason that UF played 9 more games than us?
Weather mostly, VT had 6 games cancelled due to weather or teams ducking us.
What these stats don't capture is the umps ducking us with illegal pitch calls...
Ehhhhh...from what I have seen and know about softball, which is admittedly not a ton, we should consider ourselves lucky that the umps don't call us on illegal pitches more than they do, especially on Lemley. That foot that's dragging isn't allowed to leave the ground, it's called a crow hop. She starts with it on the mound, hops, then drags, and that hop is what makes it an illegal pitch and she does it every time. But in the spirit of orange and maroon glasses: Screw the umps! Those guys suck!
Source: I have a sister that was a pitcher for travel ball and she pointed it out to me.
The thing is that nearly every pitcher does it. We certainly seem to get called on it a lot more. I mean look at the pitch on Ritters HR just further down the thread her drag foot isn't even close to the ground. Its BS college only rule that's not consistently called
Thanks for the work up!
Game #1 of the Blacksburg Super Regional is today at 2pm on ESPN2. 🥎🦃
Motion to make "Blacksburg Super Regional" an annual tradition.
Seconded!!
All in favor?
Aye!
A twice-annual tradition....
Crowds looking good on Twitter
Who's watching for updates? I can't I'll be checking in.
Hokies lead 1-0 after HR in bottom of first
1-0 going into top of the 2nd
Not an empty seat. The general admission seats were full 90 minutes before the game.
If that ball was any higher it would have needed a stewardess.
Hahahaha wow that must be embarrassing
Edit for context: Florida batter flipped her bat and jogged to first after 3 balls, had to walk of shame back to home and proceeded to strike out.
Following on Hokie Sports tracker. It needs some help! 1-0 bottom of 2
FAGAN
4-0 Hokies
FAGAN, with the three run homer
FTFY
She gone!!!
Fagan with the HR
BOOM!!!!
Just saw 4-0!!!!!!!!!
UF pitcher already 60 pitches through 2 innings. I'm no expert, but that feels like a lot.
It is, but for softball it is much different than baseball with pitch counts. Still a fatigue factor as the game goes on though.
Gotcha. But I'd like to think our batters getting long at bats can start to mess with the pitcher's confidence?
If we keep smacking it, the pitcher will get shaken and pulled.
Eh, for softball pitch counts are way different. Its a lot, but keep in mind you could throw a ball underhand literally 1000 times a day and cause no physical wear and tear like a regular baseball pitching motion does. Its more about the fatigue of throwing
Edit: I'll drink
The high cheese gets the 3rd out!
Trull gets plated by Bennett
5-0
For reference, run rule for softball is up 8 after 5 innings. We are up 5 after 3. Just sayin
It hit her fucking foot!!!!!
I'm guessing they're saying the ball in her right hand was out of the glove (left hand) when the glove made contact with her foot., or it at least was close enough to not overturn.
Big double play. Helps us keep all the momentum.
Ritter with the brace
6-0
Exact same spot as her first one.
Rain delay
can the game end early due to weather?
I think it's after the top of the 5th? Could be wrong
After bottom of 5th. Both teams need to have had 5 full innings
http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/Stats_Manuals/Softball/Softball_Rules.pdf
(Pages 51-53)
But if the home team is winning they do not need to play the bottom of the 5th and hence would be considered 5 full innings if we had made it through the top of 5 with the lead.
Edit Add on: Much like you wouldn't play bottom 7 if winning and it would still be considered a full 7 inning game.
Fair point. Have a leg
Game tracker says they have finished 5 . I imagine they will resume play.
From the way the announcers were talking, the game resumes where we left, whenever the rain delay is over.
There is no declaration of a no contest for postseason games, at least thats the sense I got from the broadcast team.
Looks like rain won't be over until 8pm?
Yea, looks like another late night. Have to come back at noon tomorrow. They need a dome!
Beamer Barn?
The ticker for UCF vs OK shows us still in a rain delay in the top of the fourth. (OK by 1, end of 1)
What the heck is going on in the Oklahoma game? I hate watching at bars without sound 😤
Also any idea of when we'll start back up and how to watch when we do?
I wonder if they would adjust the schedule and finish this game and then roll into game 2 tomorrow if they had to or if they push to play well into the night if needed.
Game will resume tomorrow at 10am.
That is good. Let the teams get some sleep so they are sharp tomorrow.
Game back on. ESPN U
Need updates!
Sat the gators down 1-2-3 in the top of the 5th
If the Hokies get two runs in the bottom of the 5th, the game is over. 1 on, 1 out.
Bases loaded. One out. Pitching change already for Florida .
Double play and inning over.
GD ESPN not dong play by play or anything for that matter!
I'll do my best for this game homie
Slaughter rule please
They got as good an opportunity as it gets to close it out with the bases loaded. Runner on first got tied up on a line drive and she was thrown out for the double play.
Come on Keely!!!!
Keely sat em down 1-2-3 again.
Not sure I'm a fan of how often in big hit situations the Hokies have a pitch hitter.
Hokies strand one on base to end the 6th
1-2-3 again by Keely and the Hokies win!!!
Easy 7th.
Game one in the books, let's get it done ladies!
DUB up 1-0 in the series
Convincing win for the Hokies!
1 to go!
Let's go Emma!!!
This team belongs in Oklahoma City. I'm feeling the sweep
Send them back to the swamp tonight!!!
I want to thank everyone for the updates!
The Hokies looked good in absolutely every facet of the game. That moment in the bottom of the 5th (or whatever inning it was) where we had bases loaded with one out and hit into a double play wasn't the worst way we've left runners stranded. The ball was hit very well (hard liner) to the SS and almost made it over her head. She just made a very quick play as she caught the ball and gunned it to first.
And before we blame the runner, just remember the field is very short so softball players are forced to get big, quick jumps which can sometimes leave them stranded as they are trying to advance.
Additionally, the girls were very disciplined at the plate and forced the UF pitcher to throw them good pitches. This is the team that can win it all.
The illegal pitch calls are adding up fast already.
Lemley's got to figure that out. Like, I get it's been called inconsistently, but it's so clearly an illegal pitch. Like, she can't possibly do it for four years, right?
I was afraid of that. Any inning / score update?
0-0 starting bot 2
Are we home all three games? Or are we home away home
We are effectively the "away" team today
I don't get the concept of the illegal pitch to begin with.
But as far as how inconsistent they are with those calls...I feel like I'm taking crazy pills! It's the same pitch!
I'm confused as to how this hasn't been corrected by the pitching coach this late in the season. Did they just start calling this illegal in the tourney? If not, they've been calling it all year and she's still doing it. Glad she's on our side though
Difficult to fix during the season. However, I would love to know how much they worked on it before the season began. It's so glaringly obvious on every pitch, I can't imagine it wasn't an issue pre-season.
That's an inexcusable at bat by Bailey. Sorry, but you can't watch two pitches go by that the umpire has already let you know they will call strikes.
And then commit interference like that. Really terrible honestly.
Putting it out there, when Lemley hits 71 mph, it's equivalent to a 100 mph fastball in baseball as far as reaction time is concerned.
Glad we limited the damage. that could've gotten bad quick. Now let's get some runs
4 walks in the inning ties it up for the Hokies 1-1 top 4, let's keep em moving
Good contact by Ritter, I thought she had it when I heard it.
We've been making decent contact with risp. Hopefully we expand on this lead.
7 runners left in scoring position , ugh.
Game 2 is quickly unraveling due to late game pitching
5th inning should be over with Florida up by one at best. They ignored an interference by the florida runner on the shortstop and that runner ultimately scored.
I mean, the runner was in the basepath, and the pitcher made the play to 1st regardless. Seemed like a no harm no foul scenario.
Not interference. The shortstop was not even the fielder that made the play. The runner is allowed to be in the base path and moving on contact, especially with the ball on the ground.
I want us to win, but that was not interference
Anyone else feel like the coach is giving up on this game and playing for game three?
4 runs is hard to come back from
Honestly saving Keely there is the right call. They have no shot to win game 3 without her.
Throwing the game to save for game 3 is why winning game 1 was so important.
As great as the girls were at the plate yesterday they were just as equally undisciplined today. Hopefully they can get the mojo back tomorrow!
I didn't understand the move with Rochard. I thought they might go to her up 2-1 to try to close out the game, but not when you've already lost the lead. That's a desperation move you make in the rubber game.
Game 3 tomorrow at 2pm
LET'S GO!!!! 🦃🥎
HOKIES!!!
Fun(ish) fact. We have a chance to knock the last remaining SEC team out of the postseason.
So you could say that..... it means more?
Great job ESPN. Airing womens lacrosse and the game isn't remotely close to being over at 2:00.
It's on ESPNU.
Isn't that also the Womens National Championship game...? Lol
Unless it's a game that has an hour long lead-in show, like College Gameday, Sunday Night Baseball, or Monday Night football, this happens with almost every game on networks that show multiple games. Especially on weekends.
I will never understand why Bennett feels like she has the right to the ball in left field. This isn't the first time this has happened this season.
Why didn't she bail when LF called her off.
That followed up a throwing error. She better punch a couple of dingers to make up for this.
Edit: Brown scored with the error cause it hit her glove.
I'm so baffled by this. Learning to call it is a thing they teach when you are 7.
Fielder coming in on the ball always has the call. SS has to bail out there.
Keely pitched a great inning. Fielders let her down and gave away a run.
We look like shit...not a great start
This team does play like some little leaguers sometimes
We look slow and flat. Florida is pushing everything. We're on our heels.
Welp... this doesn't look good at all. Unless the girls can get the offense going this will be over early.
4-0 in the top of the second and Florida is rolling.
Runners on 1st and 2nd with a LH hitter and our 1B was holding the runner? Gimme single through the gap for a RBI. Very odd.
I have yet to see any coaching that is helping us win games
I don't know much but they just look like a better all around team than us... hoping for a comeback
Florida wants it more right now. Let's hope for a rally!!
Florida is playing the way we should have yesterday. Loose and aggressive.
Rochard is getting no help from her infield but she's getting toasted. It's time for a pitching change
Rochard is done. Her pitches have little to no movement. Time to make a change.
She's already thrown 54 pitches. In 2 2/3 innings.
...and pulls her
And almost another collision in the OF... SMH
We're down 6-0. And have 1 hit!
Make that 10-0. And we haven't even batted three times
This coach of ours not calling a timeout is negligent at best.
Chokies coming out strong today some horrendous outfield play so far.
Rochard is finished... Likely her last game as a Hokie.
I am sadness
This feels like our baseball game did on Friday night.
...another 2-out RBI hit
8-0 in the top of the 3rd.
Make that 10-0
10-0 in the top of the 3rd...
Are we going to see a mercy rule?
We can only hope.
Yes. There's no indication the girls are going to get it going at the plate today.
What's the requirements to hit mercy rule?
8 runs after 4 innings.
8-0 through the 4th inning
First time this season a team has scored double digits against this team. And UF has done it in 3 innings. Errors piled up, but only one of those ten are unearned. UF just hitting the ball and being aggressive on the base paths.
Terrible pitching, non-existent defense, and players scared to swing the bat on offense. So basically, we weren't good at softball by any definition you want to use
I wouldn't say "terrible pitching". Rochard simply didn't have movement today; the umpire has been VERY inconsistent on that low strike call; and UF simply ended up getting the pitches they wanted.
But we are back to our late/post-season ways at the plate.
Sadly our at-bats have been a decent tragedy. Every batter has gone deep (55 pitches). That would lead to a lot of hits late once she wears downs. Our D just crapped the bed and made that moot point.
Bummer 😭
Great season, very shitty ending to it
Just checked it. What the fuck? I've said it before in many ways. It sucks in crunch time to be a Hokie.
The game isn't over yet - it could get shittier
We still only have 1 hit. We've stranded a small village in this series.
I think the series turned when Ritter just missed the grand slam yesterday. Way too many left on base.
I concur. 4 straight walks by the Florida pitcher and we only get one run out of it? We should have been able to go for he jugular there and didn't.
I mean in no uncertain terms, absolute choke job. Literally the 2nd or 3rd best team in the country and they melt down to this extent to not even make it out of the Super Regional?
Hate to say it, but for a roster this good to not make it to OKC is a failure.
Well, unless some sort of miracle happens the season is over. Really unfortunate to get outscored so badly in the last two games of a regional you are hosting (something like 17-2 up to this point).
Coach D'amour and crew are doing a really good job recruiting and building a team for the grind of a season. However, for reasons I can't put my finger on atm, his teams tend to struggle/lose a little steam late in the season and into post season play.
Again, really unfortunate way to end the season, especially at home (absolutely no fight at all the last two games), but otherwise things are looking up for this program!
EDIT: Outscored 18-2 in two games.
Geesh. 12-0
...and 13 hits
#3 team in the country with a chance to go to the WCWS getting absolutely embarrassed at home
Where does this rank among all time Hokies sports disasters? Hard to think it can get much worse than this
Final 3-outs. Need 5 runs to keep the game going...but saying as we only have 2 hits, it's not very likely.
We're really about to get run-ruled in an elimination home game to go to the College World Series. There are no words for how bad this game was
I'm not even mad about today. I'm really upset about yesterday. We coached terribly that game and could have won and put away the series.
Shoutout to Overaitis for accounting for 100% of our hits today
Welp...on to baseball. I'd just like a VT national team sport championship before I die.
I hope you're young.
First time all season we lost back-to-back games. Hellofatime to do it.
While disappointed with the last game. I thought these ladies had the stuff to make a run to you the finals (don't think anyone is going to beat OU). I'm very proud of this team. They exceeded expectations and performed with class. I hope they build on this, come back stringer next year and make a lot of noise for a lot of years.
I concur. Although I'm sad we lost, I'd like to congratulate our young ladies for an incredibly fine season and for representing the Hokie Nation with class, and thanks to our seniors, especially Keely for their careers as Hokies.
Obligatory
Oof, just caught the replay of the little league error in the 1st
SportsCenter tweet with the lowlights for the Hokies https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1531016431567093761
I just saw the collision in the outfield. AGAIN! Happened a few games ago. No fucking reason for that beyond YT ball. They both need to be sat. Oh that's right.....
Dude let it go. It's over. No one is happy it's over but there's nothing we can do about it
You're right Primus!