Softball
- Title:
- Graduate Manager
One of the most prolific infielders in program history, former Bulldog and current Scrap Yard Fast Pitch star Kayla Winkfield returns to Starkville as MSU’s softball graduate manager for the 2017 season, head coach Vann Stuedeman announced in August 2017. Winkfield previously served as a student assistant coach over the 2016 season.
The first signee under Stuedeman’s career as head coach, the Giddings, Texas, native wore the Maroon and White over the 2016-13 seasons, finishing her career ranked tied seventh in stolen bases with 75 and tied for ninth with 10 triples.
Over her freshman season, Winkfield closed the year third on the team with 17 stolen bases. She registered 10 hits, six walks and scored 17 runs. She held a .333 average at the plate and helped snapped MSU’s 21-game losing streak against LSU as a pinch runner when she stole a base and scored the game-winning run against the No. 12 Tigers.
She followed up that performance with 13 stolen baes as a sophomore and ranked third on the team with 106 putouts at shortstop with 58 assists. She turned in a breakout performance as a junior, ending the season with a .331 average with help of 57 hits. She also slugged nine doubles and four triples.
Winkfield closed her career by leading the SEC in triples (6) and triples per game (0.11). The senior put up a .330 average in the box with 59 hits, 36 runs scored, 17 stolen bases and a .438 slugging percentage.
She became the 12th Bulldog in program history to play professionally as she was drafted as the 35th overall pick in the 2016 National Pro Fastpitch Draft by the Pennsylvania Rebellion.
In her rookie season, she led the Rebellion in batting average (.296), slugging percentage (.417) and assists (59). In January of 2017, Winkfield was signed by the Scrap Yard Fast Pitch through the 2018 season.
Over the 2017 with Scrap Yard, Winkfield held a .262 average at the plate with 32 hits and 23 runs scored while swiping 11 bases. In the field, she held a .963 fielding percentage with 57 putouts and 22 assists with just three errors. Her performance helped carry the Dawgs to the 2017 Cowles Cup Championship.
The daughter of William and Patricia Winkfield, she was born Kayla Camille Winkfield on April 14, 1994, in Austin, Texas. She has one sister Keanna. Winkfield earned her degree in human sciences from Mississippi State in 2017. She is currently working towards her graduate degree in human development and family science.
