Arkansas centerfielder Dominic Fletcher said he really doesn’t have a favorite among his many big catches this season and knows going to LSU will be tough.
Cole on Fletcher’s big plays, going to Baton Rouge
With Arkansas headed to play an LSU team that is tough on the road, rightfielder Eric Cole knows they are going to face a strong opponent in a key SEC series.
Williams suing insurance agency, Lloyd’s of London
FAYETTEVILLE — Apparently Rawleigh Williams III hasn’t been paid after suffering a second neck injury in 2017 and he’s going to court to resolve the matter.
Attorneys representing Williams filed a lawsuit in Washington County Circuit Court on Monday. Several underwriters were named, including Lloyd’s, International Speciality Insurance and local agent Justin B. Boeving of Prairie Grove as defendants.
Willians is claiming they have not paid off on a $1 million disability policy taken out in March 2017. The lawsuit, obtained by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in a story Tuesday says the lawsuit alleges bad faith, deceit and civil conspiracy.
Williams, 21, is suing the parties for breach of contract, claiming they have not paid on a $1 million disability insurance policy taken out in March 2017, bad faith, deceit and civil conspiracy, according to the lawsuit, which was obtained by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Williams retired from football May 8, 2017, after suffering a second neck injury during the Razorbacks’ Red-White spring practice inside Walker Pavilion on April 29, 2017.
Williams is demanding a jury trial and seeking payment of the $1 million policy as well as more than $3 million in punitive damages, court costs, attorney’s fees and statutory damages of 12 percent of the total loss.
Hogs offer fifth in-state prospect for Class of 2020
Multiple news outlets are reporting Arkansas coach Mike Anderson has made a fifth in-state offer for the Class of 2020, this time to Fort Smith Northside center Jaylin Williams.
Williams, playing for the 15-under Arkansas Hawks, is a 6-9, 215-pounder getting strong looks from Oklahoma State after a solid season for the Grizzlies as a sophomore.
He averaged 7.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game on a team that finished as Class 7A’s state runner-up.
Northside coach Eric Burnett confirmed the offer to HawgSports.com and said Williams has a very high ceiling:
“First, I know everyone lists him at 6-9, but I think he’s grown some,” Burnett said. “I think he’s 6-10 and still growing. He’s got a lot of potential. Jaylin can do it all. He can post up, rebound and block shots. We actually use him in press and he’s athletic enough to do that. He really can do it all.”
McEwen collects SEC Freshman of the Week honors
FAYETTEVILLE — On the strength of a stellar performance at the plate against Ole Miss, Hannah McEwen has been named the SEC Freshman of the Week as announced by the league Tuesday morning.
McEwen paced Arkansas’ offense with a .636 batting average (7-for-11) with two home runs, seven RBI and four runs scored in the program’s first sweep of Ole Miss since 2001, and by week’s end, had broken Arkansas’ single-season RBI record.
This marks McEwen’s second SEC weekly honor of the year, and the Razorbacks’ sixth overall. She was named Co-SEC Player of the Week in early March.
“Hannah had a really big weekend for us,” coach Courtney Deifel said following Monday’s win over Ole Miss. “She’s swinging the bat so well, and I could say this about our entire lineup, but she’s one that we want to see at the plate in a big moment.”
McEwen had at least two hits in each game against Ole Miss including a three-hit performance in the series opener.
In her first at-bat of the series, she got the Razorbacks started with a solo home run and went on to score two of Arkansas’ three runs in game one.
She added another home run in game two, a grand slam in the sixth inning that pushed the Razorbacks’ lead from 4-3 to the eventual final score of 8-3. The home run was her team-leading 10th of the season and third grand slam.
On the heels of her sixth four-RBI performance of the season, McEwen continued her standout weekend with two more hits, a pair of RBI singles to help Arkansas secure the sweep.
With her sixth-inning base knock in game three, she recorded her 51st RBI of the season which surpassed the previous record of 50 established by Sandra Smith during the 2010 season.
With her efforts against Ole Miss, McEwen raised her season batting average 20 points and is now hitting .370 which leads the team and ranks 13th in the SEC.
The San Diego native is also tied for seventh in the SEC with 10 home runs and fourth in the league with 51 runs driven in. McEwen enters the final weekend of the regular season with a seven-game hit streak.
Arkansas’ SEC Weekly Honors in 2018
Feb. 19 – SEC Freshman of the Week: Mary Haff
March 5 – Co-SEC Player of the Week: Hannah McEwen
March 5 – SEC Freshman of the Week: Mary Haff
April 3 – SEC Pitcher of the Week: Autumn Storms
April 17 – Co-SEC Freshman of the Week: Mary Haff
May 1 – SEC Freshman of the Week: Hannah McEwen
Arkansas (37-11, 12-9 SEC) is set to close out the 2018 regular season with a weekend road trip to No. 13 LSU.
The three-game series begin Friday at 6:30 p.m.
The game will be streamed online and will also be featured as part of Bases Loaded coverage on the SEC Network.
Razorbacks complete first sweep of Ole Miss since 2001
FAYETTEVILLE — Sparked by a trio of multi-hit performances and another strong outing in the circle, 16th-ranked Arkansas tallied a 7-1 win Monday evening over Ole Miss to complete the program’s first sweep in the series since 2001.
Freshman Hannah McEwen drove in two of her team’s runs on the way to breaking the program’s single-season RBI record.
With the latest win on its home field, Arkansas finishes its home slate with a 24-2 record at Bogle Park this season.
Overall, the Razorbacks improve to 37-11 with a 12-9 mark in SEC play. The program last won 37 games in 2008 while the 12 wins against the conference equals the efforts of the 2013 squad.
Up Next
With their home schedule in the books, the Razorbacks will close out the regular season with a weekend road trip to LSU.
The series opener in Baton Rouge is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start and will be featured as part of the Bases Loaded coverage on the SEC Network.
FINAL: #16 Arkansas 7, Ole Miss 1 | Box Score
McEwen entered the game with 49 RBI, tied with Nicole Schroeder for second place on the program’s single-season list but she pulled even with Sandra Smith (2010) on an RBI single during the Razorbacks’ four-run fifth inning.
Arkansas entered the frame with a 2-1 advantage but pushed its lead to five with the outburst. Katie Warrick and Kayla Green also chipped in with a sacrifice fly and two-run double, respectively.
In the bottom of the sixth, pinch runner Sydney Benz stood on third after entering the game to run for Ashley Diaz who led off the inning with a double to center.
McEwen came to the plate with two down and delivered a base knock up the middle that scored the final run of the game and put her name atop the list with her 51st RBI of the year.
Sophomore Autumn Storms got the start and held Ole Miss (28-21, 5-16 SEC) to one run on four hits through the first three innings of the game.
The visitors scored their lone run in the third and threatened to add with two runners on and a hot shot off the bat of Celeste Wood but senior Autumn Buczek made a quick dive to her left to glove the ball and recovered to tag the base for the third out.
With a runner on second after a lead-off double in the fourth, freshman Mary Haff came in to relieve Storms and stranded the runner in scoring position with the help of two strikeouts.
Haff struck out six Ole Miss hitters in four innings to secure the win and pick up her 24th victory of the season—10th in SEC play and third of the weekend.
The Razorbacks scored first with a two-run single in the second inning.
With runners on second and third, senior Tori Cooper legged out an infield hit that scored pinch runner Carley Haizlip and fellow senior Loren Krzysko on the play.
Cooper finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored. Arkansas is now 32-4 when its scores first.
Four Razorbacks sign free agent deals with teams
FAYETTEVILLE — Four Arkansas football players agreed to terms with NFL teams Saturday evening following the conclusion of the 2018 NFL Draft.
QB Austin Allen — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Allen played in 29 games and started 21 times during his five-year career with the Razorbacks. After backing up his brother, Brandon Allen, for three seasons he took over the starting role in 2016 and led the Southeastern Conference in passing yardage (3,430). A team captain as a senior, Austin finished his career with 5,045 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and a 59.1 completion percentage. Each of those figures ranks inside the Razorbacks’ career top 10 list. Allen earned his undergraduate degree in supply chain management in December 2016.
Razorback Football on Twitter
Our guy @austinallen8 is headed to Tampa Bay! ???? #ProHogs
DL Bijhon Jackson — Los Angeles Chargers
Jackson played in 50 of a possible 51 games at defensive tackle during his career, seeing action in more than 1,000 defensive snaps. He started 12 games in his career, notching 47 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Jackson graduated in December 2017 with a degree in recreation and sport management.
Razorback Football on Twitter
CONGRATS, @BijhonJ! Best of luck with the @Chargers. #ProHogs
DB Josh Liddell — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Liddell started all 12 games as a senior and 37 of the 50 contests he played. During his four-year career, he totaled 177 tackles, including 3.5 for loss, five interceptions, three forced fumbles and nine pass breakups. He earned his degree in recreation and sport management in December 2017.
Razorback Football on Twitter
We’ve got another #ProHog. @JoshLiddell_2 is headed to the @Buccaneers!
DB Henre’ Toliver — Indianapolis Colts
Toliver, who started 36 of 49 career games played, including each of his last 14, totaled 161 tackles, including 7.0 for loss, and broke up 23 passes across four seasons. He finished with eight interceptions after picking off two passes in his final game. In 2017, Toliver tied for the team lead in interceptions (3) and pass breakups (8) and also returned a fumble for a score. He graduated in December 2017 with a degree in recreation and sport management.
Razorback Football on Twitter
????Congrats, @RAE_Toliver5! He’s headed to Indianapolis! #ProHogs
