2017 Softball Roster
Roster
Silkwood, Alexis
UTL
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Jersey Number 8
Alexis Silkwood
- Position:
- P
- Bats/Throws:
- L/L
- Class:
- Senior
- Height:
- 5-4
- Hometown:
- East Alton, IL
- High School:
- Marquette Catholic HS
Bio
Career MSU Records
Season MSU Records
Awards/Honors
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2017 (Senior)
2016 (Junior)
2015 (Sophomore)
2014 (Freshman)
High School
Personal
Career Highs (Pitching)
Career Highs (Batting)
- 1st in wins (59)
- 1st in strikeouts (555)
- 1st in innings pitched (665.0)
- 1st in appearances (145)
- 1st in complete games (50)
- 2nd in games started (96)
- 3rd in saves (9)
- T-3rd in shutouts (13)
- 5th in opponent batting average (.234)
- 6th in strikeouts per seven innings (5.84)
- T-6th in solo no-hitters (1)
Season MSU Records
- 1st in consecutive scoreless innings (33.1, Feb. 7-March 1, 2014)
- T-1st in wins (26, 2015)
- 3rd in complete games (24, 2015)
- T-3rd in consecutive victories (9, Feb. 10-March 4, 2017)
- T-3rd in starts (35, 2015)
- 4th in strikeouts (216, 2015)
- 4th in innings pitched (235.2, 2015)
- T-4th in shutouts (6, 2015)
- 5th in strikeouts per seven innings (7.62, 2014)
- 5th in appearances (47, 2015)
- 6th in strikeouts (167, 2014)
- 6th in lowest opponent batting average (.207, 2014)
- T-6th in saves (5, 2017)
- T-10th in strikeouts looking (28, 2015)
Awards/Honors
- Owns five total SEC weekly honors, which is the most of any player in MSU history
- 2017 NFCA All-South Region Second Team
- 2017 SEC Community Service Team
- 2015 NFCA All-South Region Third Team
- SEC Pitcher of the Week (April 21, 2014; March 30, 2015*; April 6, 2015)
- College Sports Madness Player of the Week (April 21, 2014; March 30, 2015; April 6, 2015)
- 2014 SEC All-Freshman Team
- SEC Freshman of the Week (Feb. 17, 2014; March 3, 2014)
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2017 (Senior)
- Drafted by the Akron Racers in the fifth round (24th overall pick) in the 2017 NPF Draft, making her the 13th player in school history to reach the pros
- Named NFCA All-South Region Second Team, her second-career NFCA honor
- Finished her career holding the all-time MSU records for wins (59), strikeouts (555), innings pitched (665.0), complete games (50) and appearances (145). Second in starts (96) and tied for third in shutouts with 13
- Became the first pitcher in school history to record more than 500 strikeouts and pitch in 600.0-plus innings
- Also finished third in career saves with nine, recording five of those this season, which led the SEC and was ninth in the nation
- Capped her senior campaign leading MSU with 15 wins, 108 strikeouts and a 2.16 ERA (18th in SEC) and earned a win in four of MSU’s final five SEC series
- Behind a 7.0 inning performance that featured six strikeouts, Silkwood led MSU to a 6-4 victory against South Carolina (April 8) and took over as the school’s winningest pitcher with her 56th-career triumph
- Tossed a trio of strikeouts against North Florida (Feb. 25) to take over as the new K Queen at Mississippi State with 474 strikeouts, passing Alison Owen (2013-14)
- Started off the year winning her first nine games (Feb. 10 – March 4), tying for third in the MSU record books most consecutive wins, one off of tying for the top spot
- Also was a threat at the plate, tallying four multi-hit games this year, including going 3-for-3 with two doubles and a RBI against Stephen F. Austin (Feb. 11)
- Four of her hits came with two outs, as she produced a pair of two-out RBI
- Kept opposing hitters to a team-best .192 average with two outs on the board
- Held foes to below a .200 batting average with runners on & two outs, RISP & two outs and bases loaded
- Faced 23 batters this year with the bases loaded, allowing just three hits and one extra-base hit
- Fanned four over 6.2 innings in win versus No. 16 Kentucky on May 6
- Tossed a complete game in her 14th win of the year, defeating No. 24 Arkansas (April 24)
- At the plate, she went 2-for-3 with one run and RBI against South Carolina (April 9)
- Threw 7.0 innings and allowed just two runs in win at No. 19 Georgia
- Struck out season-high nine and allowed just one run (unearned) in win vs. UMass (March 3)
- Went 3-0 in Puerto Vallarta, earning PVCC All-Tournament honors
2016 (Junior)
- Continued to be one of the Bulldogs’ key leaders in her third season in the Maroon and White
- Made 24 appearances in the circle for MSU, with 20 coming in the starting role
- Finished the season with four wins and a 3.10 ERA
- Led MSU in innings pitched (117.1) and games started (20)
- Was a part of three shutouts throughout the year, two solo and one combined
- Tossed six complete games, tied for the team lead
- Made her first appearance on March 6 against Western Kentucky after sitting out the first 18 games of the season due to injury
- In her debut, tossed 2.0 innings, shutting out the Hilltoppers while striking out a pair of batters and walking one
- Registered her first win of the season in a shutout of Ole Miss (April 3), striking out five in 8.0 innings
- In 5.1 innings of work against Louisiana Tech (April 13), allowed only two runs on four hits and struck out a season-high seven batters to capture the win
- Followed up with win No. 3 in her next showing, striking out six and only giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits in a complete game effort against No. 11 LSU (April 15)
- Threw another complete game in a midweek contest against Southern Miss, striking out six and blanking the Golden Eagles for the victory
- Showcased extreme grit against No. 1 Florida, striking out five in 8.1 innings pitched on April 24
2015 (Sophomore)
- Was a valuable asset not only in the circle, but also at the plate
- Named NFCA All-South Region third team as a pitcher
- Made 47 appearances and 35 starts in the circle, along with having made 32 appearances and 31 starts in the batting order
- Tied the MSU single-season record for wins by going 26-16 and posted a team-best 2.85 ERA
- Tossed 24 complete games, six shutouts and two saves in 235.2 innings pitched with 216 strikeouts
- Ranked first in appearances, second in the SEC in innings pitched, batters struck out and tied for second in wins
- Struck out five or more batters in 19 games on the year and 10 or more four times
- Earned five strikeouts and notched two RBI from the plate in the same game three times
- Her 35 starts ranked tied for third among MSU season records, while her 47 appearances rank fifth
- Hit .341 with 28 hits and 17 runs scored
- Attained a .512 slugging percentage with her five doubles, three homers and 21 RBI
- Ranked second on the team in hit by pitch (14) and drew six walks for a .462 on-base percentage
- Started the season with nine straight wins, the third most consecutive victories in MSU softball history
- Recorded six multiple-hit games and seven multiple-RBI games
- In addition to pitching, also saw time in right field on defense for MSU
- Struck out a career-high 15 in a five-inning win over Mississippi Valley State (Feb. 5) in the season opener
- Drove in a career-high three runs vs. Penn State (Feb. 22) by going 1-for-2 with a three-run double
- Hit her first career home run against Maryland (Feb. 27)
- Tossed a career-best 9.0 innings in a walk-off win over No. 8 Georgia (March 8)
- Hit a game-tying home run in the bottom of the seventh against No. 19 Texas A&M (March 15)
- Awarded SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week on March 30 following her six-inning shutout no hitter vs. Southern Miss (March 25)
- Won SEC Pitcher of the Week on April 6 after collecting three victories during the week prior
- Hit her third home run of the season vs. No. 1 LSU (April 8) to give her a 9-4 complete-game win in the circle
- Tossed a three-hit shutout and struck out seven to give MSU a 2-0 win over Weber State (May 16) and avoid elimination in the Lafayette Regional of the NCAA Tournament
2014 (Freshman)
- Served as the No. 2 pitching option for most of the season behind senior Alison Owen
- The Feb. 17 and March 3 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week in 2014, making her the first Bulldog to receive two SEC Freshman of the Week honors since Ka’ili Smith (March 9, May 4) and Lindsey Dunlap (March 30, April 20) in 2009
- Finished rookie year leading the staff with a 2.19 earned-run average to go along with a squad second-best 14 wins, 167 strikeouts and 153.1 innings pitched
- Threw 33.1 consecutive scoreless innings from the Northern Kentucky (Feb. 7) contest to the Memphis (March 1) game. String is the longest in program history
- The 167 strikeouts are the most in MSU freshman history and fifth most overall in the program record book
- Finished 14-8 and surrendered 59 runs, 48 earned, and walked just 46
- Appeared in 36 contests, started 20 and tossed nine complete games
- Paced the team with four solo shutouts and was part of seven total blankings
- Held opponents to a .207 batting average, the fourth-lowest mark in a season in program history
- Within the Southeastern Conference, finished the season tying for eighth in strikeouts and standing ninth in opponent batting average, 10th in ERA, tied for 10th in saves (two) and 12th in fewest walks allowed
- In 20 starts, team posted a 15-5 record (.750 winning percentage)
- Left-handed hitters batted just .186 (36-for-196)
- With the bases empty, held foes to a .188 average (64-for-340)
- Struck out 7.62 batters per seven innings, good for the fourth-best mark in program history
- Held a 3.6 whiff-to-walk ratio
- Was in the batting lineup for six games, making four starts as the designated player, and hit .231 (three-for-13) with five runs batted in, one scored and two walks
- Hit .333 (three-for-nine) with runners on base and went two-for-two with the bases loaded
- Batted .750 (three-for-four) with runners in scoring position and delivered both runners from third base with fewer than two outs
- In SEC action, led the Bulldogs with a 3.88 earned-run average and went 5-5
- Started nine games, threw four complete games and appeared in 15 of the 24 contests
- Against league foes, tossed 61.1 innings, yielding 34 earned runs on 63 hits and 31 walks while fanning 57
- Held SEC opponents to a squad-best .264 batting average
- In conference contests, held left-handed batters to a .228 average (21-for-92)
- Turned in a squad-best 3.88 ERA against top-25 opponents and posted a 4-6 overall record
- Threw 65.0 innings, yielding 65 hits and 36 earned runs to go along with 52 strikeouts versus ranked foes
- Led the staff with a 1.11 ERA during 39 wins and placed second with 101.0 innings and 132 whiffs in victories
- The lone pitcher on the staff with a winning record during road games, going 5-3 with a 3.26 earned-run average and 63 strikeouts in 53.2 innings pitched
- Held opponents to a .217 average in road contests
- Also strong during home appearances, finishing with a 6-3 record and 2.14 earned-run average
- Struck out 57 in 59.0 home innings pitched
- Went 9-3 with a 1.07 earned-run average and .165 opponent batting average against non-conference foes
- Struck out 110 in 92.0 non-SEC frames
- Dominant in February, going 4-0 with a 0.22 ERA and 41 whiffs in 31.2 innings
- Opponents batted just .107 with three extra-base hits in February
- Led the staff in April with a 2.68 ERA and 4-3 record
- Won the squad’s two games in May with a 2.80 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 23.1 frames
- Excelled during the NCAA Tournament (May 16-17), posting a 0.75 earned-run average and 1-1 record
- Struck out 15 batters in nine-and-a-third innings of NCAA postseason action
- In career debut, threw five innings and allowed just one hit and no walks against Northern Kentucky (Feb. 7)
- Struck out three in the contest, including first two batters faced of career
- During the FAU Strike Out Cancer Tournament (Feb. 13-15), held opponents to a .089 batting average with a .083 mark with runners on base (one-for-12) and did not surrender a hit with two outs during the event
- Set the Mississippi State regular-season freshman record with 12 strikeouts at FAU (Feb. 13) in the second game of the doubleheader. Fanned at least two in five of the game’s seven frames
- Threw four-and-a-third innings in relief against No. 8 Kentucky (March 8) and held the Wildcats to just one run and kept Mississippi State in the game, allowing the Bulldogs to come away with a 2-1 victory
- Tossed three shutout innings at No. 21 Auburn (March 21) in first career SEC start
- Threw complete game in finale at No. 21 Auburn (March 23) and earned first career SEC victory. Allowed just three hits and struck out six in the performance
- Picked up the win in series finale against No. 3 Alabama (April 13), recording the final out in the top of the 10th inning
- Threw complete game shutout at No. 4 Tennessee (April 18), striking out 11, an MSU rookie record in an SEC game
- Tallied a Mississippi State freshman-record 13 strikeouts against Texas Southern (May 17)
- The 13 whiffs tied senior Alison Owen’s NCAA Tournament single-game record
- Of Silkwood's first 16 outs of the game, 10 were whiffs
High School
- A four-year starter for Marquette Catholic under the direction of head coach Dan Wiedman
- A MaxPreps Medium Schools All-American in 2013
- Left Marquette Catholic as the state’s career record holder with 124 wins, 100 shutouts, 54 no-hitters and 1,907 strikeouts
- Ranks second with 15 career perfect games and checks in 13th in career earned-run average (0.34)
- Owns Illinois single-season records in strikeouts (501/2011), shutouts (28/2012), no-hitters (19/2012) and consecutive no-hitters (seven/2013)
- As a senior, averaged 16.1 strikeouts per contest, won 30 games, posted a 0.44 earned-run average and 443 strikeouts in 208 innings
- Also a threat at the plate, batting .552 with an on-base percentage of .644
- Scored 42 runs and produced 17 doubles, five triples, four home runs and 41 RBI during final season
- Guided the Explorers to the Illinois High School Association Class 3A state championship game as a senior
- Struck out 11 against Glenbard South in the title tilt, but the team suffered a 1-0 setback in eight innings
- Team went 31-7 during final campaign
- During senior year, twirled 15 no-hitters, the second most in a year in state history, and tossed a state-record seven consecutive no-hitters, blanking Jerseyville, Mascoutah, Wood River, Quincy Notre Dame, Carrollton, Nokomis and Roxana
- As a senior in the Salem Sectional championship game, went three-for-three with a triple, two walks and a run scored and earned the victory in the circle
- In the 3A state semifinal contest, struck out 12 and scattered seven hits in a 3-2 victory over Eastside Centre
- Went 34-3 as a junior with a 0.24 earned-run average and helped Marquette Catholic to the 2A regional championship
- Struck out 500 batters as a junior, one shy of her own state record of 501 whiffs set as a sophomore
- Named the May 25, 2012, Fox 2/Arby’s Athlete of the Week
- During freshman year, helped the Explorers to a fourth-place finish during the Class 2A state tournament
- Played summer softball for the Beverly Bandits and coaches Kevin Stephens and Staci Silkwood
- Also gained travel softball experience with the Midland Magic
Personal
- Born on March 10, 1995
- The daughter of Staci Silkwood
- Has one sister, Amanda, and one brother, Anthony
- Mother was a former college softball pitcher and was Alexis’ coach throughout softball career
- Majoring in secondary education (social studies)
Career Highs (Pitching)
- Innings Pitched (Starter): 13.1, vs. Auburn (March 18, 2016)
- Innings Pitched (Reliever): 12.0, vs. Samford (March 4, 2017)
- Strikeouts (Starter): 15, vs. Mississippi Valley State (Feb. 5, 2015)
- Strikeouts (Reliever): 8, at Jackson State (April 15, 2014)
- Walks (Starter): 9, vs. Auburn (March 18, 2016)
- Walks (Reliever): 6, vs. Kentucky (March 8, 2014)
- Hits Allowed (Starter): 14, vs. Missouri (April 4, 2014)
- Hits Allowed (Reliever): 8, vs. Samford (March 4, 2017)
- Runs Allowed (Starter): 8, 4x, last vs. Missouri (April 29, 2016)
- Runs Allowed (Reliever): 8, at Georgia (March 15, 2014)
- Earned Runs Allowed (Starter): 8, vs. Baylor (May 15, 2015)
- Earned Runs Allowed (Reliever): 8, at Georgia (March 15, 2014)
Career Highs (Batting)
- At-Bats: 5, vs. Georgia State (Feb. 12, 2017)
- Runs: 2, vs. Tennessee (April 18, 2015)
- Hits: 3, 3x, last vs. Stephen F. Austin (Feb. 11, 2017)
- RBI: 4, twice, last vs. LSU (April 15, 2016)
- Doubles: 2, vs. Stephen F. Austin (Feb. 11, 2017)
- Home Runs: 1, 3x, last vs. LSU (April 8, 2015)
- Walks: 2, twice, last vs. Missouri (May 1, 2016)
- Stolen Bases: 1, 3x, last vs. Miami (Ohio) (March 1, 2015)
- Putouts: 8, vs. Alabama (March 18, 2017)
- Assists: 7, vs. Auburn (March 18, 2016)
- Hitting Streak: 6 (March 15, 2015 vs. Texas A&M to March 25, 2015 at Southern Miss-1)
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Raelin Chaffin ESPN2 Postgame Interview
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Friday, May 16
