State sports briefs

SWIMMING AND DIVING

UA’s Schultz, Palsha compete at nationals The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville was represented by two freshmen on the second day of the NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at Ohio State University’s McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio.

Freshman diver Brooke Schultz competed in the 1-meter springboard, finishing ninth in the prelims, just 0.35 points shy of qualifying for the finals with a score of 295.20. In the consolation round, she scored a 311.80 to win the round and finish ninth overall in her NCAA debut.

Arkansas began the day with a 37th-place finish by freshman Peyton Palsha in the 500-meter freestyle.

She was just shy of a personal-best 4:43.05, finishing in 4:43.19.

BASEBALL

Rucker signs Frontier League contract Former Southern Arkansas University standout Trevor Rucker will continue his baseball career as it was announced earlier this week that he signed with the Southern Illinois Miners of the independent Frontier League.

Rucker’s signing with the Miners makes him the fifth Mulerider to do so since 2011.

Last season, Rucker wrapped up his Mulerider career in record-breaking fashion.

Tabbed as a unanimous All-American and the Central Region Player of the Year, Rucker hit .393 with 20 doubles, 20 home runs, 49 RBI and 20 stolen bases.

His 20 home runs were the second-most in a season at SAU, and vaulted him to the top of the all-time list as he ended his career with 42 home runs.

Rucker was the only player in all NCAA divisions to have at least 20 home runs, 20 doubles, and 20 stolen bases.

Rucker was unanimously named as the Great American Conference Player of the Year in his senior season.

TENNIS

Arkansas falls to LSU

Louisiana State University overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 4-2 on Thursday at the LSU Tennis Complex in Baton Rouge.

The Razorbacks (5-8, 1-3 SEC) won the doubles point and got the first victory in singles, but the Tigers (11-4, 2-3 SEC) rallied to win the next four matches.

In doubles, Arkansas junior Agne Cepelyte and sophomore Natsuho Arakawa earned a 6-0 sweep over LSU’s Luba Vasilyuk and Ashton Rabalais at the No. 3 spot. Sophomore Giulia Pairone and senior Mia Jurasic clinched the opening point with a 6-3 victory at No. 2.

At the clinch, No. 30 junior Ana Oparenovic and freshman Tatum Rice led 5-4 at the top spot.

Cepelyte defeated Rabalais 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6 singles. LSU then picked up consecutive victories at the top four spots for the overall team victory.