In the third inning of the Muhlenberg softball team’s game at McDaniel, a Mule fan looked toward the on-deck circle and said, “Oh, Kelly’s up next, I need to get my front row seat,” before hurrying to the first row of the bleachers.

That’s because when the sophomore first baseman steps to the plate, it is more than just an at-bat, it’s a chance to witness history.

Moments after the fan got to his seat, Kline sent a towering shot over the right-center fence for her third straight home run. It was just the latest in what has been a sizzling season for Kline. And her onslaught at McDaniel helped her leave some impressive marks on the school record book.

The three straight blasts, one in the opener and two in game two, not only kept her school-record hitting streak intact at 23 games, but they moved her season home run total to nine, breaking the Mule single-season record of seven set last season by two-time CC player of the year Ashley Brewer.

They also moved her within one of Brewer’s career home run mark of 13 less than two seasons into her career, which Kline could hardly believe.

“I had no idea,” Kline said when told about the season record. “Ashley was a great player; I really looked up to her. She helped me a lot as a freshman. To be mentioned with her is incredible. It means a lot.”

Through games of last Sunday, Kline led the CC and ranked in top five in Division III in batting average (.519) and slugging percentage (1.013). Her 23-game hit streak is five more than the previous Mule record. She’s also two home runs shy of the CC single-season mark.

But wait, there’s more!

Kline needs only one more extra-base hit to tie the program season record of 20, and she currently sits third on the single-season lists for total bases (78, 11 shy of second and 15 away from first) and RBI (34, 2 away from second and 17 shy of first).

There’s more than enough numbers and records to make heads spin. But it’s nothing compared to head spinning that comes from trying to figure out how to get Kline out.

That’s why McDaniel gave Kline the “Barry Bonds” treatment in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, walking her intentionally to start the sixth inning despite having a six-run lead.

Kline can hit for both power and average, and she can make things happen when she gets on base, witnessed by her team-high 26 runs scored.

Much of her success comes from the time and effort she puts in every day at practice. Senior Shelby Smith said Kline is the hardest worker on the team, and makes everybody better just by being in the lineup.

“She’s amazing,” Smith said of Kline. “She hits the ball so hard, and you think she’s going to get a hit every time. She’s just a great player and a great teammate.” 

But for all the astronomical numbers and tape measure shots she’s been putting up this season, Kline said she just tries to keep things simple when it comes to hitting.

She tries to hit the ball as hard as she can every time up, and if it goes out of the park, all the better, she added.

So while she said the records and accomplishments are nice, she’s far more concerned with team goals. And after winning the conference title as a freshman, she has her sights set high again.

“I didn’t even know how many home runs I have hit, so I don’t think about it. I just wait for a good pitch and try to hit it,” she said. “It’s cool to have records, but it’s just really fun to win. We’ve been playing well, and hopefully we can keep on winning.”