Haff, Burnside named award finalists

University of Arkansas softball pitcher Mary Haff and infielder Braxton Burnside have both been named top 10 finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award, the organization announced Wednesday.

Both Haff and Burnside were instrumental in helping the Razorbacks secure at least a share of their first SEC regular-season title. Arkansas wrapped that up with a 4-1 win over LSU in the second game of a doubleheader on Monday.

Burnside is currently second in the country with 24 home runs this season, and fifth nationally and tied for the SEC lead with teammate Danielle Gibson with 51 RBI. The shortstop smashed the Razorbacks’ single-season home run record this year, and her 24 home runs rank as fifth-most in a single season in SEC history. Burnside is also second in the SEC with 128 total bases and a .895 slugging percentage. For the season, the Paragould native is hitting .347 and has drawn a team-best 36 walks.

Haff improved to 22-5 with a pair of wins to help the Razorbacks take the series at LSU, including the Monday nightcap. It was her 74th career victory, the most in program history.

Her 22 wins are tied for fifth most in the country. The redshirt junior has posted a 1.61 ERA in 170 innings while limiting opponents to a .192 batting average. Haff has also registered five saves, which rank fifth nationally. She garnered her second SEC Pitcher of the Week honor on Monday.

The final three will be announced on May 19 before the 2021 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year is virtually revealed on June 1 prior to the 2021 NCAA Women’s College World Series, which will take place at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex on June 3-9.