Madisyn Kennedy’s bat has been on fire so much it’s like somebody dipped it in gasoline. No. 20 Mississippi State’s first baseman’s offensive prowess at the plate was recognized Tuesday as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) National Player of the Week.
The fifth-year senior ranks second nationally in slugging percentage (1.167) and ranks 11th nationally with 35 RBIs. Her 13 RBIs in SEC games is six more than the next closest batter and she recorded six RBIs in the Bulldogs’ three-game series against No. 12 Texas A&M.
Kennedy was crucial in MSU’s 6-5 win Sunday against the Lady Aggies. She smashed a three-run home run to tie the game in the bottom of the first inning and gave the Bulldogs’ offense the spark it needed to avoid the series sweep. The previous day, Kennedy hit a solo home run in the second game and followed that with a two-run single in the seventh inning, making the score 8-5 and giving MSU a chance to win the game. Kennedy started her week with a two home runs in a single inning against Louisiana-Monroe, including second career grand slam and ended with a career-high seven RBIs.
For the season, Kennedy leads the Bulldogs with a .451 batting average, 1.762 OPS, 11 home runs and 35 RBIs. The Montgomery, Alabama-native now ranks sixth in MSU history with 34 career home runs and 10th in RBIs with 123 in her career.
The Bulldogs (22-6, 3-3 SEC) hit the road this week, beginning with a single game in Kennedy’s hometown against Alabama State. The game will air on HornetSportsNetwork.com and fans can purchase a single-game pass to watch live for $8.
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