Arkansas softball team storms to victory in home opener.

Arkansas Storms to victory in home opener

FAYETTEVILLE — Senior Haydi Bugarin and sophomore Nicole Duncan hit home runs on consecutive pitches in the bottom of the fourth inning Thursday night, breaking open a close game and pacing the Arkansas softball team to a 7-1 victory over Southeast Missouri State in its home opener at Bogle Park.

Junior Autumn Storms (4-0, 0.40 ERA) struck out a career-high 13, allowing just one unearned run for her fourth straight win.

“That’s what Autumn has been doing for us all year,” Razorback coach Courtney Deifel said. “She’s looking very strong and tough and is able to put the ball where she wants to put it.”

Arkansas got on the board in the bottom of the first after three singles loaded the bases. Sophomore Kayla Green hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Hannah McEwen for a 1-0 lead.

SEMO tied the score at 1-1 in the third, when Mykaela Arellanes singled, then advanced to third on an Arkansas error. She scored on a groundout by Rachel Anderson.

Following the homers in the fourth, Arkansas plated three more runs for a 6-1 lead. Sydney Parr reached on an error before McEwen singled and Danielle Gibson lined a double to score Parr. After Katie Warrick walked to load the bases, Ashley Diaz and Green also walked to force in two more runs.

“I think it was just being able to put a confident swing on a good pitch, and Haydi passing it on to Nicole was huge,” said Deifel, who now has 99 victories at Arkansas. “I just thought our offensive approach tonight was really confident, and we made the most of what they gave us.”

Gibson, who leads the team with a .417 batting average, singled in Parr to score the final run in the fifth inning.

SHORT HOPS: Arkansas leads the SEC with a team ERA of 0.74. … Razorback catcher Kayla Green threw out Claudia Gallo trying to steal third base to end a SEMO threat in the first inning. … After surrendering a single to Addison Barnouski

to start the second inning, Storms struck out the next three batters in order. … Storms previous high in strikeouts was nine against Central Connecticut March 3. … Green’s team-high seven walks is equal to the total number of walks Arkansas pitchers have surrendered this season.

ON DECK: Arkansas will host SEMO at 4:30 p.m. today in the Razorback Invitational at Bogle Park, then will play SIU-Edwardsville at 7 p.m. SEMO will face Drake at 12:15 p.m. in the Razorback Invitational, then will play Arkansas at 4:30 p.m.

ON THE WEB: arkansas razorbacks.com

NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Arkansas starter Autumn Storms delivers a pitch against Southeast Missouri on Thursday during the fourth inning at Bogle Park on the university campus in Fayetteville.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Arkansas designated hitter Danielle Gibson celebrates an RBI single.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Arkansas coach Courtney Deifel watches from the third-base coaches box against Southeast Missouri on Thursday at Bogle Park in Fayetteville.