The RoundHouse | 3/22/2024 9:43:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop

Chloe Barber returned to being hard on hitters and not so hard on herself on Friday.
 
"She wants to be perfect, sometimes" Wichita State coach Kristi Bredbenner said. "It's tough to be perfect."
 
Barber's solution to a less-than-perfect stretch that followed two of the best pitching performances in Shocker history?
 
"Think less," she said.
 
Barber's plan to throw hard and worry less worked in Wichita State's 8-0 win in five innings over UTSA at Wilkins Stadium. The Shockers (15-10, 6-2 American Athletic Conference) won the opener 10-2 in five innings. The teams finish the series at 4 p.m. Saturday.
 
Barber, freshman from Lino Lakes, Minn., struck out seven, didn't walk a batter, and held UTSA (9-23, 1-7) to two hits. She didn't allow a hit until Taylor Jensen doubled with two outs in the fourth inning. She moved to third on a wild pitch. Barber ended that threat by striking out Erykah Guerrero looking.
 
 

Chloe is a cheat code.@barberchloe26 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wgrFHKCnsh

— Wichita State Softball (@GoShockersSB) March 23, 2024

 
 
Mostly, Barber overpowered the Roadrunners. She mixed in a few off-speed pitches that kept them off-balance.
 
"She had her good stuff, and they couldn't really touch it," catcher Lainee Brown said. "She's been working on where to place the rise-ball and where to place the curveball."
 
Two weeks ago, Barber didn't get out of the first inning in a loss to Florida Atlantic. Last weekend, she closed out two wins at ECU and Bredbenner liked Barber's recovery. Coaches emphasized hitting spots and throwing at the knees to stay low in the strike zone and away from hitters' power.
 
"I started pressing a bit too hard," she said. "Small things. If I gave up a hit, I would be like 'Oh gosh, what if I give up another,' instead of forgetting it and moving on. We've been focusing on lately to give your all on every single pitch and forget what happened last at-bat."
 
On Friday, Barber looked more like the sensation who struck out eight in a win over No. 20 South Carolina, 15 in a 3-1 win at No. 15 Arkansas and a school-record 16 strikeouts in a win over Illinois State.
 
Things got tougher and she started worrying too much. When she tightened up, her velocity dropped. She walked six in 5 2/3 innings in a loss to No. 14 Missouri. Against FAU, she started twice, but totaled 2 2/3 innings and gave up five earned runs on seven hits and five walks.
 
She moved to the bullpen last weekend at ECU and didn't allow a run in two innings.
 
"She came in two different games and closed, and I think it gave her some confidence," Bredbenner said. "She's got such great stuff that we've got to keep getting her more comfortable and pitching more relaxed and not being so hard on herself."
 
 

Ever seen a frozen Roadrunner before?@AlexAguilar2022 | 📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/ihSYjn5HLE

— Wichita State Softball (@GoShockersSB) March 22, 2024

Alex Aguilar held UTSA to six hits in the opener. CC Wong hit a three-run home run in the third inning to give WSU a 7-0 lead. In the second game, Taylor Sedlacek went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run. Brown drove in runs with a single and a sacrifice fly.
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.