STARKVILLE — Sophomore catcher Katie Anne Bailey has talked frequently about the Mississippi State softball team’s new aggressive mentality on offense.
That mentality shifted from words to actions Wednesday afternoon at the MSU Softball Field.
Bailey scored the go-ahead run from second base on a fly ball to the outfield. The heads-up play and aggressiveness on the base paths is one reason why the Bulldogs are off to a fast start.
Thanks in part to that play, MSU held off the rain and Kennesaw State to take a 4-2 victory.
“It’s complete trust in the third base coach (Vann Stuedeman in this game),” Bailey said. “We know we are going be aggressive and try to force the issue. When I got to third base, I saw her winding me. I knew I had to go full speed. We are always looking for that extra base. This time, that was a huge run.”
With the game tied at 2 in the fifth inning, Caroline Seitz hit the fly ball that came within an eyelash of her eighth home run.
“I couldn’t believe she scored on that play because I really didn’t think the ball went that far,” Seitz said. “Katie Anne is one of our fastest players. When I stepped up there, I knew it was tied and I knew we really needed to get her home.”
MSU (17-3) improved to 14-1 at home. That record will be tested this weekend when No. 8 Georgia (19-2) comes to Starkville for a three-game Southeastern Conference series.
“I really like where this team is headed into conference play,” Bailey said. “We have a lot of confidence and we have a lot of momentum. This was a really important win because we came back from Orlando (where the team posted a 3-1 mark in the Diamond Citrus Classic) on a high. We needed that to carry over.”
MSU had 11 hits. The offense continues to impress with its eighth game with 10 or more hits. The Bulldogs achieved that mark only seven times in 60 games last season.
“It’s a different mind-set at the plate,” Seitz said. “A lot of players talk about how important it is to have confidence in yourself. It is also important to have confidence in your teammates. We really believe each time up there that one of our teammates is going to do something special and really come through.”
Stuedeman admits an increase in team speed and a higher comfort level with veteran players have allowed the team to take a few more risks.
“There wasn’t any doubt we were going to try to score there,” Stuedeman said. “I don’t think it is a change in philosophy as much as it is our players being a little more comfortable in what we are trying to achieve. The ability to put pressure on the other team is really huge. We have a few more options on offense, so that means we can open up a little more.”
Alexis Silkwood (11-2) went the distance in the circle. She allowed six hits and two runs (one earned) and struck out 10. Silkwood trails only Georgia’s Chelsea Wilkinson (12-2) in the wins column in the conference. Silkwood leads the league with 100 strikeouts. Wilkinson is second (99). Their battle in the circle will be one of the subplots this weekend. Georgia leads the league with a .412 batting average. MSU is fourth (.337).
“This team has really grown up and matured a lot,” Seitz said. “We are a lot different team than we were even three weeks ago. I think some of the younger players now know what it is like to play senior college softball against some really great teams. It will take another leap for them to compete against SEC teams. The fun thing is we will be taking that leap together.”
MSU took another leap by beating a team it lost to last season. Kennesaw State (10-5) defeated No. 10 Kentucky earlier this season.
“Kennesaw State has a really good team,” Stuedeman said. “At the end of the year, they will finish with an RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) in the 40s or 50s. These are the kinds of games you just have to have if you want to advance to postseason play. It’s a win that will really count in May. I will take it, put it in my back pocket, and be very happy to leave with it.”
Mackenzie Toler, Kayla Winkfield, and Loryn Nichols had multiple hits for the Bulldogs. Amanda Ivy had three RBIs to give MSU five hits and three RBIs from the bottom three spots in the lineup. Production like that is a trend that will need to continue in league play.
“We have had some really pleasant surprises on offense,” Stuedeman said. “We know we will pitch it and defend it, so to be able to have this much diversity on offense would be really great once we get inside league play.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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