McEwen, Haff earn weekly honors from SEC

FAYETTEVILLE — On the strength of their standout performances that helped the Razorbacks to a 7-0 home stand, the freshman duo of Hannah McEwen and Mary Haff have been recognized with SEC weekly honors as announced by the league Monday afternoon.

McEwen has been named the SEC Co-Player of the Week while Haff was been selected as the SEC Freshman of the Week for the second time this season.

Arkansas (16-1) next hits the road for a Tuesday doubleheader at Wichita State. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Wilkins Stadium on the WSU campus.

The two teams have met eight times previously, most recently playing 2012 but have not played in Wichita since 2008.

Wichita State (9-8) will be playing its home opener Tuesday.

McEwen registered a .500 batting average (10-for-20) with three home runs, 16 RBI and seven runs scored. She had at least one RBI in each game including four in each of the first three games of the week.

She also tallied at least one hit and one run in six of seven games including three multi-hit performances. McEwen opened the week against Missouri State with her second grand slam of the season.

The San Diego, Calif., native enters the week second in the SEC and third for third in the NCAA with 29 RBI.

McEwen also leads the Razorbacks with five home runs and 16 runs scored.

With Monday’s announcement, McEwen is the third freshman in program history to win SEC Player of the Week and the first to do so since the 2000 season.

In five appearances last week, Haff was 4-0 with a save and a 0.00 ERA.

She recorded 40 strikeouts, gave up just six hits and issued only four walks in 26.1 innings of work while holding the opposition to a .072 batting average.

In her second start of the week, Haff threw the seventh no-hitter in program history in Arkansas’ win over Northern Colorado. She capped her week with a save against Central Connecticut State.

The Winter Haven, Florida, native currently ranks third in the SEC and tied for 10th in the NCAA with 90 strikeouts this season.

Haff carries a 9-0 record and a 0.50 ERA through the first month of the season and becomes the second player in program history to win SEC Freshman of the Week twice.