By ANDRE CHAMPAGNE, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
Once the 2025 softball season ended, Mississippi State’s Kylee Edwards decided to do something few expected.
After two years as Mississippi State’s starting shortstop, she was not sure what she would do, but she knew she did not want to rest on her laurels and get complacent. And the next thing she knew, she was at LSU via the NCAA Transfer Portal.
“Everyone was surprised when I entered the portal, and it had nothing to do with playing time or anything like that,” she said. “I just wanted to challenge myself, and my ultimate goal is to win a national championship. My decision to pick LSU was because the coaches were amazing, and because of all the preparation they put into our practices.”
When Edwards, who is from Waldron, Indiana, first got to Baton Rouge, it took some adjusting.
“It took me a minute to get used to it, because I came from Starkville, and I grew up in a very small town in Indiana,” she said. “I graduated with like 32 kids in my class, and I lived in the middle of nowhere. So, it was a culture shock at first. But it’s so awesome. I love it.”
In two seasons with the Bulldogs, Edwards batted .280 with 14 home runs, 60 RBIs and 38 walks. In 296 career at-bats, she struck out just 24 times. Edward’s biggest goal this off-season is to improve her swing.
“I think my main focal point was adding more power and leveling out my hits,” she said. “Instead of taking it to the air, taking it to the ground.”
Hitting coach Bryce Neal has helped her.
“He’s really bought into my swing and made some adjustments that really showed in the fall,” Edwards said. “It’s hard not to buy into that process, and I bought into it. And it completely transformed my swing for the better.”
Edwards admits being at LSU has been different.
“These girls here work so freaking hard,” she said. “Like, you don’t have to worry about anybody taking off a rep. We all want to win a national championship. I feel like that’s the main goal. And we’re so close as a team.”
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