Davis goes deep for Redhawks, hits first college career home run

When you know, you know.

And Karsyn Davis knew.

The Harrisburg product and Southeast Missouri State freshman stepped into the batters box Saturday, stared down the barrel of a 1-0 count and without hesitation, took a deep breath, rocked back on her right leg, planted her left foot and sent a rocket over the fence for her first college career home run as the Redhawks routed Morehead State 10-0 in Game 2.

Davis, who is hitting .314 through 24 games and 35 at-bats, has 11 hits, three of which are doubles. She's slugging .486 after Saturday with an on-base percentage of .314.

Davis, who shined in her time at Harrisburg made sure to soak in the moment of her solo shot in the first inning.

"Rounding the bases my first thought was automatically "man you're so slow, your teammates are gonna get tired waiting for you at home!" But no, I was just excited. Hitting at this level is so tough and having success is even harder, so really all I could think about while rounding the bases was "that really felt good off the bat." I just wanted to soak it all in.

And she did, taking a hard-inside pitch to left center field off Carolyn Alincic, following up the three-run shot moments before provided by teammate Ashley Ellis.

"My swing has really always been, for the most part mechanically, the same since I was 10," Davis said. "The main adjustments I've made at this level mechanically are just taking my bat off my shoulder before the pitch to stay loose and help my bat angle. The big adjustments have all came mentally. I meet with my coach every week and watch film and we break down the mental side of all of my at bats.

"In high school, just stepping into the box and swinging is enough to get by, but at this level you have to take into account your scouting reports on the pitcher, their tendencies, the opposing teams scouting report on you, and also just the game situation and what you're trying to do to move runners. My approach has to change every pitch so that really has been the biggest adjustment for me. It's still a work in progress."

Davis' progress is paying off as SEMO is now 13-10 overall and is 10-1 and in first place in Ohio Valley Conference play.

And unlike some unwritten baseball rules, Davis wasn't left alone in the dugout after hitting her first career home run.

She was greeted at the plate by on deck teammates Austine Pauley and Alyson Tucker and later mobbed by the rest of her teammates.

"The dugout was really hyped," Davis recalls. "We do a line on either side that extends into the dug out and they beat your helmet as you run through and at the end someone stands there and gives you a hug."

Coincidentally, Ellis, who hit the three-run bomb prior to Davis is the one to give her the hug.

And Davis just soaked in the moment.

Spyder Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois LOCAL Media Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.