Kellie Wilkerson Named SEC Player Of The Week
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- After playing a key factor in Mississippi State's sweep of visiting Florida this past weekend at the Mississippi State Softball Field, senior first baseman/pitcher Kellie Wilkerson was Monday named the SEC's Player of the Week, the league office announced. Wilkerson, who took part in her final game in front of the home crowd Sunday afternoon, hit .625 (5-for-8) in MSU's three-game series with the Gators, supporting the numbers with two doubles, one triple, four RBIs and four runs scored. She also turned in a 1.125 slugging percentage and a .727 on base percentage in 11 plate appearances. Wilkerson tallied a 2-for-2 clip with four RBIs in game two of the set, then highlighted Senior Day by matching a career high with three runs scored on a 3-for-3 tally. She made a pair of appearances in the circle for the Maroon and White, striking out three Gators in three and two-thirds innings of work, while also recording her 14th save of the campaign. On three occasions, including twice in game two of the series, she made relief appearances and forced the Gators to strand runners in scoring position. Wilkerson will leave Starkville as one of the most decorated players ever to don the Maroon and White. She owns or shares 25 single game, single season or career records at Mississippi State, while also staking claim to two NCAA records and a handful of SEC records. She is currently 11 hits shy of breaking her 26th record (career hits) at Mississippi State. She needs just three more walks this season to break into sole possession of fourth place on the NCAA career list. A three-time all-American and a three-time first team all-SEC selection, Wilkerson is currently hitting .412 on the campaign to go along with 28 extra-base hits (9 HR) and 28 RBIs. In the circle, Wilkerson sports a 5-2 record to go along with a team-best 1.72 ERA and 14 saves. She has struck out 70 batters in 69 innings of work this season. Wilkerson and the Bulldogs will be back in action on Thursday when State travels to Chattanooga, Tenn., for the 2002 SEC Softball Tournament. The seventh-seeded Bulldogs (34-27) will open up their portion of tournament play on Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. when they take on second-seeded and SEC Champion South Carolina (41-16) at Jim Frost Stadium near downtown Chattanooga. Ticket information for the SEC Tournament, which runs Thursday through Sunday, can be obtained by contacting the Southeastern Conference at (205) 458-3000.