The RoundHouse | 9/24/2021 4:27:00 PM

 

Bailey Urban mentioned that she wasn't hitting many home runs this fall. That is good news, associate head coach Elizabeth Economon reminded her.
 
Urban, a sophomore outfielder at Wichita State, hit 21 home runs as a senior at Millard South High School in Omaha. She swung hard and with an uppercut designed to lift softballs over the fence.
 
"Which worked very well for me in high school," she said. "Division I pitching is very humbling."
 
College pitchers found her cold zone quickly. She saw rise ball after rise ball. She popped up a lot of pitches, pitches that in high school she often smacked.
 
Over the summer, Urban devoted time in her backyard batting cage to flattening her swing and hitting the ball to all fields. As fall practices continue with scrimmages this weekend, Urban and her coaches are pleased with the progress.
 
The Shockers play Southern Nazarene (6:30 p.m. Friday) and Kansas (noon Saturday) at Wilkins Stadium.
 
"She is very committed to being a better hitter," coach Kristi Bredbenner said. "It's difficult to put in work on things you're not good at. I think that's something Bailey is really doing a good job of, identifying the things she struggles with and really putting in the time."
 
Urban, who started 40 games in left field last season, worked on balancing her legs and swinging straight to the ball. The result, she believes, will be a swing that is more efficient and covers more of the strike zone.
 
"With the uppercut is a lot of keeping your weight on your back leg," she said. "I really tried to focus on being more 50-50 in my legs and feel my front side, which then helps my hand and my shoulder not jump. Straight to it."
 
Urban hit .212 with three home runs and six doubles last season. In the shortened 2020 season, she hit .253 in 26 starts in the outfield.
 
"Bailey is, to me, one of the most competitive kids," Bredbenner said. "She wants to compete every single time. You knew she was going to go in there and compete."
 
The Shockers lost four starters from last season's batting order. That opens opportunity for Urban to use her voice more as a leader in the outfield and the need for her to produce more with her bat. The Shocker returners want to pass on the experience of winning the American Athletic Conference title and playing in the NCAA Regional at top-ranked Oklahoma last season.
 
"I got to go and play at the No. 1 team in the country for regionals," Urban said. "That's not something you can just put in somebody's head. I'm trying to be more vocal, say what I'm thinking in my head. Saying it out loud in case someone didn't see it."
 
With the departure of four-year starter Bailee Nickerson from center field, Bredbenner is looking at many options in the outfield this fall.
 
Addison Barnard, who played right field last spring, played center field in an earlier scrimmage. Senior Wylie Glover started 55 games in 2019 and hit .369 in 27 starts in 2020. Sophomores Lauren Johnson, Tatum Long and Lauren Lucas are also competing for playing time.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.