Softball Adds Lexie Elkins to Coaching Staff

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Off the heels of elevating Samantha Ricketts to associate head coach, Mississippi State softball received another upgrade to the coaching staff in the form of three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American catcher Lexie Elkins.

Elkins will serve as a volunteer assistant coach under head coach Vann Stuedeman and the Bulldogs over the course of the 2018-19 season.

A native of Victoria, Texas, Elkins brings a wealth of experience to Starkville after appearing in three NCAA Super Regionals and advancing to the 2014 Women's College World Series as a member of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajun softball program. Elkins was selected the No. 1 overall pick by the Pennsylvania Rebellion in the 2016 National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft and competed in the professional ranks before announcing her retirement in March of 2017.

"We are pleased to announce the addition of Lexie Elkins to our coaching staff," said associate head coach Samantha Ricketts. "Lexie brings a tremendous amount of knowledge, specifically in the area of hitting, and will be able to use her experiences and success of competing at the highest level with our hitters. She is passionate and ready to get to work and will be an exceptional resource in the instruction of our catchers and hitters. We are excited to see what she can bring to the table with this team."

Elkins began her career at Texas Tech before transferring to Louisiana for her sophomore season where she led the Ragin' Cajuns to the Women's College World Series in her debut season. Elkins took the Sun Belt Conference by storm and earned the league's Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons to become the first player in Sun Belt history to achieve the feat.

As a junior, Elkins broke the school and the conference records for both home runs and slugging percentage as she closed her junior campaign with 32 homers and a 1.077 slugging clip. Her 32 home runs rank second in the NCAA's single-season annals. As a senior Elkins broke and set her own school and conference records in batting average, on-base and slugging percentage.

"I'm excited for this new opportunity here at Mississippi State," Elkins said. "This is one of the best coaching staffs in the country, and I am eager to learn and be a part of this family."

A 2016 graduate of Louisiana, Elkins majored in sports management. Elkins played one season in the professional ranks with the Pennsylvania Rebellion, recording 21 hits and 15 RBIs.
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Elkins' Accolades
2016 NPF Draft – Overall No. 1 Selection
NFCA Diamond Sports NFCA Division I Catcher of the Year (2015)
James J. Corbett Award Winner (2015)
USA Softball Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist (2016)
USA Softball Player of the Year Top 26 Finalist (2015)
NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee (2016)
Honda Award for Softball Nominee (2016)
NFCA First Team All-American (2016, 2015)
NFCA Third Team All-American (2014)
NFCA First Team All-Central Region (2016, 2015, 2014)
Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year (2016, 2015, 2014)
All-Sun Belt First Team (2016, 2015, 2014)
Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll (2016)
Louisiana Sports Writers Association Hitter of the Year (2016, 2014)
Louisiana Sports Writers Newcomer of the Year (2014)
All-Louisiana First Team (2016, 2015, 2014)

Mississippi State University Athletics

Softball Adds Lexie Elkins to Coaching Staff

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