If it was me coaching last night!

[tmolina]

So after seeing Ricketts gives up four hits in the eleventh inning and OU goes down 3-0 and I was Tennessee coach I would have taken Ellen out and put Ivy in for bottom of that inning. Both pitchers were tired and balls weren't breaking and they were staying over the plate. I know hind sight is 20/20 but I was thinking it right when OU went down 3-0.

 

[CycloneSoftball22]

3 run lead and Ellen has shut them down for 10 innings , I stick with her

 

[29dad]

3 run lead and Ellen has shut them down for 10 innings , I stick with her

In the 11th, maybe. In the 12th, no chance.

 

[CycloneSoftball22]

In the 11th, maybe. In the 12th, no chance.

People would be saying just the opposite if they had made the change and Ivy gave up a walkoff. Gotta go with your gut and Ellen hadnt lost much at all.

 

[29dad]

People would be saying just the opposite if they had made the change and Ivy gave up a walkoff. Gotta go with your gut and Ellen had lost much at all.

Understood. It's obviously just my opinion and i acknowledge that the TN coaching staff has forgotten more about softball than I will ever know. But having just surrendered a three run lead in heart breaking fashion (costly error and then a few line shots), and given that the OK lineup was about to roll over again, and especially given that Ellen had thrown 180 pitches, I thought it was time to hand the ball to Ivy. Fresh arm, new look.

I also think it was madness to pitch to Miss Chamberlain with first base open. After the leadoff double, I turned to my wife and said "intentionally walking Chamberlain is the biggest no-brainer in the history of the world." And then I saw the catcher crouching and wanted to scream "NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" but it was too late.

 

[CycloneSoftball22]

I do agree about the Chamberlain part. I didnt see much reason to pitch to her in that situation.

 

[Sweet Lou]

People would be saying just the opposite if they had made the change and Ivy gave up a walkoff. Gotta go with your gut and Ellen hadnt lost much at all.

I totally would have sent her out for the 11th. But she gave up a couple of hard hit shots in the gaps and over CF head. Yes the erro hurt but the other hits weren't cheapies. I would not have sent he back out for the 12th with OU getting redy to turn over their lineup.

But if his gut told him skick with Ellen, I won't crucify him either.

edit - I see 29dad covered all this ground already.

 

[tmolina]

If you have the number one team in the country down three after 10 innings with possibly a half inning left in the game, you make the switch. Then pitching to Chamberlain was beyond bold or gutsy to maybe insane!

 

[softballphreak]

Well, I guess we're right. Tennessee has just gone 2 innings without a score against a fresh OK offense.

 

[JDBerry]

Also, If I was the 2nd baseman, I would have caught the pop that put Rickketts on 2nd