Senior third baseman Ashley Kopp wasn’t her usual self during the 2013 regular season: She was launching home runs left and right and didn’t solidify her defensive prowess at third base until late in the year.

Now, she’s found her comfort zone of productive output at the plate and solid defensive play at the hot corner, which her teammates and coaches say is what sets her apart.

Head coach Christina Sutcliffe said Kopp came into her own in the MAC Tournament last season when she was named to the 2013 MAC All-Tournament Team. Kopp went 6-for-16 (.375) with one home, one RBI, two runs scored and two walks, and she made sensational defensive plays at third base.

“All of a sudden it just kind of clicked together for her in that MAC tournament,” Sutcliffe said. “She’s taken the confidence with her into this year and has really stepped up into a really good leadership role for us and is doing a great job defensively.”

Kopp, one of two team captains, has started at third base in 39 of the Huskies’ 41 games this season. Kopp, along with senior shortstop Shelby Miller, controls the left side of the Huskie infield.

“Third base, I think, is a very tough position,” Kopp said. “… With so many balls coming that way — between hard hits between bunts between slaps — it takes a really strong mental mindset to play there. Third base, it’s a tough one, but it’s fun once you get it down.”

Kopp has committed only six errors in 130 chances (.954 fielding percentage) this season and has yet to commit an error in 45 chances during conference play.

“I’d say the biggest thing is she’s one of the best third basemen that I’ve seen; especially in the MAC, she’s one of the top third basemen,” Miller said. “To know that she’s next to me and that she’s going to cover some good ground, it makes my job a lot easier.”

At the plate, Kopp is on pace to break offensive career highs she set last season, but one personal best she likely won’t break is home runs in a single season. She has two home runs this season after she hit eight last season.

“I think I just kind of went on a huge streak last year,” Kopp said. “After coming off a season like that, I’m getting pitched a lot differently, as well. [I’m] just trying to have the same philosophy at the plate and just keep working on getting on base for my teammates and just playing solid defensively.”