Softball | 4/30/2025 8:52:00 AM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
The title of Elizabeth Economon's book will be "Happy People Hit Better."
 
Will Wichita State third baseman Krystin Nelson be on the cover? Perhaps the first chapter? Acknowledgements? Definitely somewhere, thinks Economon.
 
"She is that person more than anybody I've ever coached," said Economon, Wichita State's associate head coach. "When she relaxes and when she is confident and is feeling good, she is great. And I remind her 'Hey, happy people hit better.'"
 
Nelson, a senior from La Porte, Texas, is on one of her happy stretches as the Shockers (26-22-1) enter the final week of the regular season. Kansas (21-24) visits Wilkins Stadium at 6 p.m. Wednesday before WSU travels to Memphis for its final American Athletic Conference series.
 
While Nelson's strong defense kept her in the lineup, she built herself into a solid hitter. She embraced hitting ninth and made a career of turning the batting order over so pitchers must face the top of the order. This season, it's leadoff hitter Ellee Eck followed by Lauren Lucas. In past seasons, she gave All-Americans such as Sydney McKinney, Addison Barnard and C.C. Wong a chance to hit.
 
"It takes a lot of hard work, and it takes a lot of guts, just to make it into the nine spots we have," she said. "I love it. I love the pressure of getting it back to Ellee Eck. Who wouldn't want to get the lineup back over to Ellee and Lauren."
 
Nelson, a lefty, is 9 for 19 with two walks in WSU's last seven games to raise her batting average to .271 for the season, .317 in 24 conference games. She has more walks (19) than strikeouts (nine) for the first time as a Shocker.
 
"Defensively, she's outstanding," coach Kristi Bredbenner said. "She understands it's her job to roll over the lineup and get on anyway she can. On the latter half of the season, she's worked the count a lot better, she's had some good barrels and started to feel more comfortable."
 
That's the happy hitter at work.
 
While Nelson started as a freshman, the ups and downs of the adjustment to college softball tested her. She started her sophomore season with a 0-for-19 stretch before recovering to hit .273. As a junior, she hit .311, .403 in AAC games, with nine doubles and three home runs. Her absence from the all-conference team remains a disappointment to Bredbenner.
 
"My first two years, I was extremely hard on myself," Nelson said. "That's what (Economon) and I talk about all the time. She had to remind me almost every day that you're not going to perform the way you want to unless you're happy. Whatever that means for you, you do that."
 
 

Shocker Senior: Krystin Nelson 🖤💛 pic.twitter.com/LV4g0oLetS

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

Nelson calls her four seasons at WSU the best time of her life and the hardest. Coaches and Mallie Hall, assistant director of mental health, kept her moving in the right direction with their support. One of Hall's themes is "Filling your cup," to encourage athletes to prioritize their happiness often enough to enjoy the game and enjoy life away from the stadium.
 
"I truly didn't figure out who I was a person until these past two years," Nelson said. "That was the hardest part – you're trying to be great at what you do, you're trying to get good grades and you're trying to be the best version of yourself. Managing all of that at one time is extremely hard. But when you have coaches like you have here, and the support staff, you're getting the best of the best. They truly care about you, not just as an athlete."
 
As a senior, Nelson passes those lessons to younger Shockers, much as McKinney helped her. One of Nelson's lessons is that it's OK to have good days and bad days. On bad days, she tells sophomore infielder Mila Seaton, don't let that mood overwhelm and affect habits and teammates.
 
"Freshman year coming in is real hard," Seaton said. "You have high expectations, and if you don't live up to them, you're hard on yourself. She's been that voice in my head telling me 'It's going to be OK. You're showing up. You're working hard. Your time is going to come.'"
 
Nelson, a sport management major who earned Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors in 2024, plans to return to the Houston area and teach elementary school. She is inspired by visiting her mother (Kellie Nelson) at her job as a teacher.
 
"When her students come up to her and tell her things that they're concerned about, she truly looks them in the eye and is concerned and cares about what they're saying," Nelson said. "You never know what a kid's background is. Seeing how my mom interacts with kids is really remarkable."
 
 

G1/T4 | WSU 4, TLS 0

NINE. HOLE. NELLY 🔥@GraceKrystin smacks a 2-run single off the wall in center! pic.twitter.com/zGhUCepdRc

— Wichita State Softball (@GoShockersSB) April 17, 2025

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