Bulldogs Celebrate 40th Anniversary With All-Time Team

STARKVILLE – The 2022 season marks the 40th anniversary of Mississippi State's first varsity fastpitch softball game on March 10, 1982. To celebrate, the Bulldogs have named a 20-member All-Time Team with preference given to the program's All-Americans and those who went on to play professionally.

The team is made up of two catchers, six infielders, five outfielders, two designated players/utility players and five pitchers. Trading cards for each all-time player will be available for every Friday night SEC game this season in five-card sets. Additionally, State will welcome back the "Ladies of the 80s" on Saturday, March 19 against Ole Miss.

The best of the Bulldogs!

📰: https://t.co/tKyPxTJi2k #HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/QEKl5QdwGF
— Mississippi State Softball (@HailStateSB) February 4, 2022

C – Chelsea Bramlett (2007-10)

Inducted into the MSU M-Club Hall of Fame in 2016 … four-time NFCA First Team All-American … was a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist in 2010 and a Top 25 Finalist in 2008 and 2009 … three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American and the 2010 CoSIDA Academic Player of the Year along with being a Top Four Finalist for the HONDA Award … four-time All-SEC selection, with three first team honors … won the NFCA adidas Golden Shoe Award in 2009 and 2010 and was a three-time NFCA Catcher of the Year … named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2007 … MSU's career leader in batting average, runs scored, hits and stolen bases … batting average of .536 in 2010 is the 10th-highest in NCAA Division I history … also owns the Bulldog single-season record stolen bases (61 in 2010).

C – Mia Davidson (2018-Pr.)

Earned two All-American honors in 2019 … was a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist in 2019 and is a two-time First Team All-SEC selection … NFCA Freshman of the Year Finalist and SEC Freshman of the Year in 2018 … enters 2022 holding MSU's career record for home runs (69), needing just two to tie the SEC career record, and the SEC career slugging percentage record (.754) … slugged an SEC-record 26 homers in 2019 … holds State's record for the most NCAA Tournament games played and started (12) and total bases in the postseason (19).

INF – Courtney Bures (2005-08)

Two-time NFCA All-American … named the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2005 … three-time First Team All-SEC selection … Drafted No. 16 overall by the Washington Glory in the 2008 NPF draft … played four professional seasons, spending the final three with the Akron Racers … Mississippi State career leader in RBI, sacrifice flies and assists … also owns MSU single-season records for total bases (158 in 2005) and assists (193 in 2007) … one of nine players in program history to hit 15 or more home runs in a year.

INF – Michelle Gates (1997-00)

Named an Easton All-American in 1999 … two-time All-SEC selection including First Team honors in 1999 … earned All-SEC Tournament Team honors in 1998 … was a senior on MSU's first NCAA Tournament team in 2000 … hit the first grand slam in program history on May 7, 1999 … played professionally in the Women's Professional Softball League with the Ohio Pride in 2000 alongside former teammate Karrie Rider … second in MSU history in career doubles, third in triples, sixth in RBIs and 10th in batting average … in the Bulldogs' single-season record book, is tied for third in triples (10 in 1998) and sixth in assists (157 in 2000) … also pitched and owns the fifth-best career ERA in program history … won an MSU-record 10 consecutive decisions in the pitching circle in 1997 … also owns the Mississippi State single-game record for runs scored with five against Alabama State on March 1, 1997.

INF – Jenny Hehnke (1997-00)

Named an Easton All-American in 1998 … earned Easton Player of the Month honors twice in May of both 1998 and 1999 … four-time NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete … was a senior on MSU's first NCAA Tournament team in 2000 … owns the Mississippi State single-game record in doubles with three against Tulsa on Feb. 23, 1997 … ranks eighth in MSU history in career batting average, sixth in hits, ninth in assists and 10th in doubles … holds the Bulldog record for the most sacrifice hits in a season (23) and is sixth in single-season at-bats (210) … also pitched in her freshman season and threw the first perfect game in school history, striking out eight in an 18-0 victory over Alabama State on Mar. 2, 1997.

INF – Jennifer Jessup (2001-05)

Tied for third in MSU history in career games and tied for fourth in career starts … ranks fourth in MSU career history in assists … holds two of the top 10 single-season assist totals in MSU history … stole 19 bases as a freshman, which still ranks among the top five rookie totals in Bulldog history … earned All-Region honors as a senior … two-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete … selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2004 NPF Draft by the New England Riptide.

INF – Karrie Rider (1997-00)

Along with OF Keri McCallum became MSU's first All-SEC selection, garnering Second Team honors in 1997, before repeating in 1998 and 1999 … earned First Team All-SEC honors in 2000 … started a school-record 71 games along with McCallum in 2000 as MSU notched its first NCAA Tournament berth … holds two of the top three single-season assist marks in program history and ranks second in career assists … played professionally in the Women's Professional Softball League with the Ohio Pride in 2000 alongside former teammate Michelle Gates … became the first Bulldog to play in NPF, suiting up with the Texas Thunder from 2004-06.

INF – Kayla Winkfield (2013-16)

Ranks seventh in MSU career history in stolen bases and is tied for ninth in triples … led the SEC and ranked among the top 10 in the nation in triples in 2016 … led MSU in hits, runs, stolen bases, total bases and slugging percentage that year … holds the Bulldog record for the most stolen bases in a single NCAA Tournament with three in the 2015 NCAA Regional … named an NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete in 2016 … selected in the 2016 NFP Draft by the Pennsylvania Rebellion … won the 2017 NPF Championship with the ScrapYard Dawgs where she played three seasons, including the final two with former teammates Alexis Silkwood and Holly Ward.

OF – Brittany Bell (2008-12)

One of three MSU outfielders with multiple seasons of five or more outfield assists and tied for third in career outfield assists (14) … MSU's career leader in hit-by-pitches and ninth in walks … hit two grand slams in the 2012 season … reached base safely in 25 straight games over the 2011 and 2012 campaigns and in the 2010 season … there have been just 12 reached-base streaks of 25 games or longer in program history, and Bell is one of three players to have recorded multiple … led State in batting average, triples, total bases, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and runs in 2012.

OF – Hayle Guess (2004-08)

Three-time All-SEC selection … tied for third in MSU history in career games played and started … ranks ninth on the Bulldogs' career leaderboard in hits and total bases and fifth in triples … tied for third in career outfield assists (14) and tied for seventh in career stolen bases … drove in a Bulldog-record seven RBIs against Pacific in the NCAA Tournament on May 18, 2007 … holds State's record for NCAA Tournament RBIs with 12 in her career … tied for fourth in MSU single-season history with six outfield assists in 2008 … reached base in 32 consecutive games in the 2008 season, which is tied for the fourth-longest streak in program history … led MSU in doubles in 2006, home runs in 2007 and 2008 and triples in 2008.

OF – Keri McCallum (1997-00)

Named an All-American in 2000 by both Easton and the NFCA and was the NFCA Division I Catcher of the Year … earned CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American accolades that year as well … played with the USA Softball Blue Team in 1999 and 2000 … State's career leader in triples … ranks second in MSU career history in hits and third in batting average and stolen bases … along with INF Karrie Rider became MSU's first All-SEC selection, garnering First Team honors in 1997 and went on to earn three more conference honors … started a school-record 71 games along with Rider in 2000 as MSU notched its first NCAA Tournament berth while racking up a single-season-record 100 hits … selected to the NCAA Region 1 All-Tournament team in 2000 … drafted with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2000 Women's Professional Softball League Draft by the Tampa Bay FireStix.

OF – Iyhia McMichael (2001-04)

Three-time All-American and two-time finalist for USA Softball's Collegiate Player of the Year … State's only SEC Player of the Year, having won the award in both 2003 and 2004 … named a Top Four Finalist for the HONDA Award in 2004 … four-time All-SEC and All-Region selection … played with the USA Softball Elite Team in 2003 … was a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2004 … was Mississippi State's first draft pick and was taken with the No. 1 overall pick by the Akron Racers in 2004 … led the NPF in batting as a rookie and was named Player of the Year and an All-Star … won an NPF Championship the following season and was again selected to the All-Star team … ranks second in MSU history in runs, triples, RBIs and stolen bases and is fourth in slugging percentage and home runs … holds Bulldog single-season records in runs and walks and is second and third in slugging percentage … defensively, holds the career (23) and single-season (9) records for outfield assists … recorded both of the two longest reached-base streaks (41 games and 35 games) in school history.

OF – Kaili Smith (2009-12)

The only Bulldog to ever come to Starkville from the state of Hawaii … earned Second Team and Freshman All-SEC honors in 2009 … named to the 2012 Eugene Regional All-Tournament Team … ranks 10th on the Bulldogs' career leaderboard in hits and total bases, ninth in runs and eighth in RBIs … tied for fourth in MSU single-season history with six outfield assists in 2010 and is fifth for her career (10) … career fielding percentage is ninth in school history … one of nine Bulldogs to ever record a 50-RBI campaign … hit two grand slams in the 2010 season … twice led the Bulldogs in hits, doubles, RBIs and walks in a season.

DP – Fa Leilua (2019-21)

Became one of the most-feared hitters in the country in just three seasons at MSU … ranks second in Bulldog history in career home runs and slugging percentage … named an All-American by the NFCA and Softball America in 2019 after being a First Team All-SEC selection in her first year in the conference … led all SEC DPs in 2019 with eight home runs and a .387 average in conference play … that season saw her set MSU's junior home run record and average 0.38 home runs per game to rank second in the league and fifth in the nation … ranks second in MSU single-season history in home runs and both fourth and sixth in slugging percentage.

DP – Kellie Wilkerson (2007-10)

Inducted into the M-Club Hall of Fame in 2010 … collected seven All-American honors across four seasons, including four First Team honors … the Bulldogs' all-time leader in games played and MSU's only two-time member of the All-SEC Tournament Team … four-time First Team All-SEC selection … played on the U.S. National Team in 2005 and was a member of the USA Softball Elite Team from 2001-03 … selected to the NCAA Region 3 All-Tournament team in 2002 … owns MSU career records in on-base percentage, doubles, total bases, walks and saves, while ranking third in home runs and slugging percentage … scored nine runs in the SEC Tournament in her career, which is a Bulldog record … holds single-season records in RBIs and saves … her 32 career saves stood as an NCAA record until 2021 … played five professional seasons in NPF and was the first Bulldog to win a professional championship in 2004 with the NY/NJ Juggernauts … was an NPF All-Star in 2004 and an All-NPF Team selection in 2007 and 2008.

P – Autumn Anderson (1998-99)

Tied for the school record with 26 wins in 1998 and also holds the No. 4 spot at 23 wins the following year … tossed eight shutouts in 1998, which stood as a school record for 20 years … compiled three streaks of 20.0 or more scoreless innings that spring, including one of 29.0 innings, which was an MSU record until 2014 … also struck out 246 batters, which stood as a Bulldog record until 2013 … earned All-Region honors in 1998 and landed on the All-SEC Tournament Team the same year … in 1999, set school records with 38 starts and 25 complete games while pitching to a 1.07 ERA that ranks fourth in program history … holds two of MSU's top three single-season innings pitched totals … ranks second in Bulldog career history in ERA and fewest walks per seven innings … also third in career wins, innings pitched and complete games … was an NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete … became the first Bulldog to be drafted and to play professionally, being selected in the second round of the 1999 Women's Professional Softball League draft by the Durham Dragons.

P – Kim Davis (1985-86)

Played only her freshman and sophomore seasons before the program was temporarily discontinued … holds MSU's career ERA record at 1.26 … also holds the single-season record at 0.79 and ranks seventh at 1.58 … tossed 18 complete games in 1985, which stood as the school record until 1999 … threw 28 complete games in her career, which ranks eighth in school history … averaged 1.67 walks per seven innings in her career, which ranks eighth in MSU history … allowed the fewest runs and hits of any Bulldog pitcher to throw at least 150 career innings, while throwing the most innings out of the top three in each category.

P – Alison Owen (2013-14)

Joined MSU as a transfer from Georgia for her junior and senior seasons … ranks second on the Bulldogs' all-time strikeouts leaderboard with 473 in just two years … State's all-time leader in strikeouts per seven innings (8.83), walks per seven innings (1.05) and opponents' batting average (.193) … holds two of the top three single-season strikeout totals in MSU history … won 35 career games in two years, which is tied for 10th in program history … threw 34 complete games, which ranks fifth in Bulldog career history … threw the 14th no-hitter in school history on March 2, 2013 against Fordham while striking out seven … tossed a single-game-record 14.0 innings in a 1-0 loss to then-No. 12 LSU on March 8, 2013 … holds the Bulldog record for strikeouts in a single NCAA Tournament with 20 in the 2013 Mobile Regional … struck out 15 or more batters in a single game twice, with her 16 punch outs on Feb. 24, 2013 standing as the school record until 2020 … played professionally with the Akron Racers of NPF for three years (2014-16) before serving as a coach with the franchise in 2017 … named an NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete.

P – Alexis Silkwood (2014-17)

The Bulldogs' all-time winningest pitcher with 59 career victories … also holds career records for innings pitched, appearances, complete games and strikeouts … holds the MSU career record for strikeouts in the NCAA Tournament with 35 … owns the longest scoreless innings streak (33.1) in program history … named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2014 and was a three-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete … two-time SEC Community Service Team representative … started 35 games in 2015, which is tied for third in school history, and went the distance 24 times that year, which is also third in school history … holds two of the top 10 single-season strikeout totals in program history … threw 13.1 innings against Auburn on March 18, 2016, which ranks second in MSU single-game history … one of three Bulldogs to ever strike out 15 or more hitters in a single game … tossed the 16th no-hitter in program history against Southern Miss on March 25, 2015 while striking out eight … selected in the 2017 NPF Draft by the Akron Racers and spent four years in the league with the Racers, Cleveland Comets and ScrapYard Dawgs where she played alongside former teammates Kayla Winkfield and Holly Ward.

P – Holly Ward (2015-18)

One of seven Bulldogs to pitch in multiple no-hitters, throwing a perfect game with 11 strikeouts on Feb. 9, 2018, and the final two innings on April 28, 2016, both against Mississippi Valley State … one of three Bulldogs to toss a shutout in the NCAA Tournament, blanking North Dakota State on May 19, 2018 … pitched a school-record nine shutouts as a senior with 173 strikeouts that year, which ranks sixth in program history … tied for the Bulldogs' career record in shutouts and sixth in career complete games, saves and strikeouts … played one professional season with the ScrapYard Dawgs in 2018 alongside former teammates Alexis Silkwood and Kayla Winkfield.

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