Softball | 3/27/2025 4:07:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Lauren Lucas and Camryn Compton joined Wichita State softball as freshmen for the 2021 season. They've been through injuries, NCAA regionals, road trips, 163 wins, 405 home runs and much more.

As their fifth and final season together hits the halfway point, Compton is putting together a stretch they will remember fondly, both for the comeback story and the number of softballs flying over fences. Lucas, who watched her friend lose most of 2022 and all of 2024 to injury, is thrilled to watch the breakout.
 
"Cam and I have seen each other's highs and lows," Lucas said. "I've had a blast watching her crush the ball."
 
The Shockers (16-16, 4-5 American Athletic Conference) play USF (28-9, 7-2) in a series beginning at 6 p.m., Friday at Wilkins Stadium. Wichita State hitters are sizzling over the past two weeks with Compton playing a lead role.
 
"She's been an RBI machine for us," coach Kristi Bredbenner said. ""She's had some tough luck, and she's finally relaxing and playing some softball."

 

Over the past 10 games, the Shockers are hitting .359 and slugging .626 with 18 home runs and 18 doubles. They are 6-4 in that stretch with a win over Kansas and series wins over North Texas and UTSA. Wednesday's 19-16 loss to No. 2 Oklahoma did nothing to slow the offensive outburst.
 
Compton, a first baseman from Riverton, took over the starting job in late February. Over the past 10 games, she is hitting .364 with two doubles, six home runs and 22 runs batted in.
 
For the season, she is hitting .243 with seven home runs in 23 starts. She missed last season with a knee injury, while a shoulder injury sidelined Lucas. Compton's goal during the return is to see as many pitches as possible to get used to facing opposing pitchers after the year off.
 
"It was a tough start, which I know I'm still getting back into things," she said. "I think it was mainly about having good at-bats. You learn more when you have longer at-bats. That way I could maybe have success the next time."
 
Compton homered for the second time this season against North Texas on March 16, part of a 2-for-4 game in which she drove in four runs. She homered three times in the series at UTSA, capping the weekend by driving in seven runs with two homers and a sacrifice fly. She also homered in Tuesday's win over Central Arkansas and against the Sooners.
 
Compton started the season in a 1-for-16 slump and rotated at designated player. Bredbenner noticed she continued to work and continued to hit the ball hard. She did not give into frustration, Bredbenner said, and that paid off in late February.
 
"Cam was always in the mix at practice (earlier in the spring)," Bredbenner said. "She was getting big hits, barreling some balls up. As soon as Cam had an opportunity, even though her batting average didn't say it, she was having really good at-bats. Now she's getting on base a ton."
 
Compton started at first for the first time on Feb. 24 vs. Abilene Christian and went 3-for-4 with a double and a home run. She has started every game but one at first since.
 

"It's confidence," said Lucas, who plays right field and leads WSU with a .426 batting average. "Once she knew she had locked herself in, she felt free to swing, and boy, has she. It's been really, really awesome to watch."
 
A shoulder injury ended Compton's 2022 season after eight games. She has already surpassed her career totals with seven home runs and 27 RBI this season. This weekend against USF, she will match her previous high with a 24^th game started.
 
She credits her teammates, her family and her faith with helping her stick with softball during the tough times. Over the past 10 games, Compton is showing what she can do as a relaxed and confident hitter.
 
"It's been hard," she said. "When you have something that keeps you away from something you love, it's tough. Getting back and knowing that this team wants the best for me, and they support me and we're all here for each other, that's huge."
 
 

The hottest bat on planet earth.

The numbers for Cam over her last 7 games:

.409 Avg. | 9 H | 6 HR | 19 RBI | 1.273 SLG pic.twitter.com/Cn4PlzkbUn

— Wichita State Softball (@GoShockersSB) March 27, 2025

 
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.