Arkansas softball sweeps Mississippi St.

FAYETTEVILLE – Junior Katie Warrick drove in four runs and sophomore Autumn Storms picked up her second win in as many days as the 23rd-ranked Razorbacks registered an 8-2 victory Sunday over No. 20 Mississippi State to complete the first threegame sweep of a ranked opponent in program history. Arkansas improves to 28-6 overall with a 5-4 mark in SEC play.

Sunday’s triumph also capped a three-week home stand that saw the Razorbacks post a 12-1 record at Bogle Park. Overall, Arkansas is now 19-1 playing on its home field. The program last swept a conference opponent in 2013.

After a scoreless first inning, Arkansas plated the first run of the game without the benefit of a hit. Loren Krzysko walked to lead off the second and moved around to third on a pair of wild pitches. Fellow senior Tori Cooper brought her home with a sacrifice fly to deep center field. Mississippi State (28-9, 3-6 SEC) answered with two runs—on two solo shots—in the top of the third inning to take the lead and force a change in the circle with Storms taking over for starter Mary Haff.

The Razorbacks erased their deficit with a fiverun fourth inning that Warrick finished off with a two-run single to center field. A.J. Belans picked up her first of two hits Sunday with an RBI single that scored Cooper from second to tie the game. Later in the frame, Hannah McEwen and Ashley Diaz drew consecutive bases-loaded walks for a two-run lead. Warrick added to the advantage with her base knock.

Storms, meanwhile, was doing her part to keep the visitors off the scoreboard. Mississippi State threatened in the top of the sixth with a runner at second and no outs.