Wilkerson Earns Fourth NFCA All-American Award
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Senior first baseman/pitcher Kellie Wilkerson became just the second four-year all-American at Mississippi State and the first female to earn such honors as the Jacksonville, Fla., native was Wednesday evening decorated with second team honors at a pre-Women's College World Series awards banquet in Oklahoma City, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced. Wilkerson, who, this season, helped lead the Maroon and White to their second NCAA Regional appearance in three years, became the first four-year all-American in Starkville since track phenom Lorenzo Daniel accomplished the feat from 1985-1988. She is the only female at Mississippi State to earn all-American laurels in four-straight seasons. The owner of 26 single season or career records at Mississippi State, Wilkerson pulled up one hit shy of shattering former all-American Keri McCallum's career hits record (319) after a 2-for-3 effort in a loss to Louisiana-Lafayette in NCAA Regional play on Saturday. McCallum reached her career milestone in 76 more at-bats than Wilkerson. Wilkerson will exit Starkville with a .429 (318-for-742) career average to go along with 114 extra-base hits (44 HR) and 175 RBIs, as well as SEC career records in both on base percentage (.544) and walks (177). She shattered the NCAA's single season record for saves with 14 this season, while also topping the NCAA's career list with 32. Her walk total also ranks fourth on the NCAA's career list. Following her appearance in Oklahoma City, Wilkerson will travel to Chula Vista, Calif., for the USA Softball team camp at the ARCO Olympic Training Center, May 30-June 3. She will join a select group of 39 other players competing for spots on teams that will represent the U.S. in international competition this summer.