The RoundHouse | 4/28/2022 3:34:00 PM
There are rewards for working efficiently for Wichita State softball pitchers.
Besides the zeroes on the scoreboards that help winning, there is a bag of Starbursts waiting on the desk of pitching coach
Presley Bell. Each inning a Shocker pitcher gets out of the circle with 15 or fewer pitches earns a Starburst. That gives a pitcher the potential to walk away with seven Starbursts each game.
"If we're working 15 pitches or less, you're being beneficial and you're giving yourself a better chance for success," Bell said. "Each girl has their color. Caitlin (Bingham) only likes yellow. Erin (McDonald) likes pink. Ali (Cooper) likes red, and Jordyn (Pipkin) likes red, and Kenzie (Schopfer) likes orange."
Wichita State (28-13, 10-2 American Athletic Conference) stayed in the conference race and is riding an eight-game win streak with its pitching staff doing more to help the powerful offense in recent weeks. That performance is critical as the Shockers wrap up the regular season with six games and prepare for post-season play. That stretch starts Friday at ECU (20-29, 2-10).
In conference play, the Shockers are one game behind UCF (39-11, 11-2), which is ranked No. 15 in the RPI. Wichita State and UCF end the regular season in a three-game series at Wilkins Stadium starting May 6.
"We're all getting better," McDonald said. "
Alison Cooper, Caitlin – they're working their way up and they're mowing people down."
Over the past 11 games, the pitching staff compiled a 2.76 earned run average to help the Shockers go 8-3.
Cooper, a freshman, went 3-0, highlighted by a four-hitter against USF, with a 1.15 ERA. Bingham struck out 17 and walked four in her past four appearances to go 3-1 with a 3.39 ERA. McDonald, fresh off no-hitting Memphis in a 19-0 win on Sunday, went 2-2 with a 3.46 ERA in that span.
"We've talked a whole lot about trusting ourselves, using what we're doing in the bullpen and translating that into the game," Bell said. "Make our pitches work. Trust our spots. Really focusing in on the location we want to hit and trusting our body to get there."
McDonald started her upward trend by holding Tulsa to six hits and no earned runs in a 13-4 win. She pitched well in a loss to No. 6 Oklahoma State and struggled through a loss at USF. In run-rule wins over Kansas (9-2) and Memphis she allowed one run in 10 innings.
When Shocker coaches talk about McDonald, the conversation often turns to confidence.
"When I'm confident, like (Memphis) I go out there and mow people down," she said. "There's times when I'm not confident, and I think it leads into my pitches. If I'm throwing a riseball and I'm like 'Don't hit this' vs. "Try and hit this.' Knowing that my pitches are going to work."
Wichita State targets 15 pitches because it reduces wear and tear late in the season and it means the pitchers are targeting the strike zone. Avoiding the unproductive pitches that lead to falling behind in the count and walks are critical. Throw strikes or pitches that are close enough to tempt the hitter.
"(Cooper) has come a long way her last few outings," Bell said. "I think she is starting to let herself trust her mechanics and trust her talent."
Bell wants her pitchers to trust the Shocker offense, as well. They don't need to think about throwing shutouts. They don't need to throw perfect pitches. They can't give up six runs because they're worried about giving up one.
"With an offense like ours, you should be the most confident pitcher in the circle because we're going to put up runs for you," Bell said. "There's no need to press too hard. It's really all about trust and having a good attacking mindset."
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
