Haff gets spot on national award top freshman watch list

FAYETTEVILLE — In recognition of the impressive start to her freshman campaign, pitcher Mary Haff has been named to the Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year Top 25 watch list.

Through the first two months of her collegiate career, Haff carries a 20-3 record in the circle with a 1.07 ERA and 185 strikeouts in 143.2 innings of work.

The top-10 finalists for the national freshman award will be announced May 10. Haff is one of nine pitchers on the list and one of five freshmen overall from the SEC.

Junior and current teammate Ashley Diaz was part of the top-25 watch list during her freshman season in 2016.

Haff leads the SEC and ranks second among freshmen nationally with her 20 victories. She is the first Arkansas freshman to reach that mark since the 2001 season.

Her 185 strikeouts are second in the SEC and tied for 13th in the NCAA while her 1.07 ERA is fourth among freshman in the NCAA. Through 29 appearances, Haff has walked just 18 hitters and ranks fourth nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio (10.28).

Earlier this season, Haff threw the seventh no-hitter in program history when she beat Northern Colorado (March 2) during the Razorback Invitational.

She has also recorded six one-hit performances this year and is holding the opposition to a .137 batting average. Haff has tallied seven or more strikeouts in 13 games this season including four outings in double figures.

The Winter Haven, Fla., native has been named SEC Freshman of the Week on three occasions this season, most recently Tuesday afternoon when she was recognized for a 3-0 week including two wins over No. 15 Alabama.

It marked Arkansas’ fifth SEC selection of the season. Fellow freshman Hannah McEwen earned SEC Player of the Week in early March while sophomore Autumn Storms was named SEC Pitcher of the Week following the team’s series win over Mississippi State.

The Razorbacks have nine SEC games remaining in the regular season, beginning with a weekend road trip to 11th-ranked Auburn.

The three-game series begins Friday at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+ and through the WatchESPN app. Arkansas returns home April 28-30 to host Ole Miss at Bogle Park.