Softball
Storms, Belans help clinch series win over Mississippi State
Sophomore Autumn Storms pitched a complete-game shutout to lead Arkansas to a 6-0 win over Mississippi State on Saturday afternoon.
Senior A.J. Belans supplied the power with a three-run shot in the fourth inning. With the result, Arkansas (27-6, 4-4 SEC) posts its first series win over Mississippi State since 2010.
Up Next
The Razorbacks’ 13-game home stand ends Sunday afternoon with the series finale against Mississippi State.
First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Bogle Park. With the series in hand, Arkansas is in position for its first SEC series sweep since the 2013 season.
Final: #23 Arkansas 6, #20/18 Mississippi State 0 | Box Score
Belans’ home run was her second and the Razorbacks’ 40th of the season, marking the ninth time the program has reached that figure in a single season.
With Kayla Green on first, Tori Cooper knocked a two-out single up the middle to put two on for Belans.
The senior shortstop took the first pitch from the Bulldogs’ Candace Denis and knocked it off the foul pole down the line in left field.
The run support was more than enough for Storms who gave up just three hits on the day with four strikeouts and no walks.
She gave up a hit in each of the first two innings and then proceeded to retire the next 10 she faced. Mississippi State (28-8, 3-5 SEC) put together its biggest threat in the sixth winning with runners on first and second and just one out.
However, Storms got out of the jam with a force play at third and her fourth strikeout of the day. She handed the Bulldogs’ just their second shutout loss of the season.
Freshman Hannah McEwen opened the fifth frame with an infield single, her 11th multi-hit performance of the season.
Katie Warrick drew a one-out walk to give Arkansas runners on first and second. With two outs, freshman Kayla Green dropped an RBI double to right that scored McEwen.
A throwing error on a Cooper ground ball allowed two more runs to score.
