Linnie Malkin crushed a three-run home run and the No. 23 Arkansas softball team scored six runs in the third inning to roll over South Dakota State 13-3 in a run-rule victory Friday in the Razorback Invitational at Bogle Park.
Arkansas (10-1) completed a Friday sweep by shutting out Marist 7-0 in the late game.
In the opener, the Razorbacks trailed 2-0 in the top of the first, but Malkin turned that around by launching a three-run home run to help Arkansas score four runs in the inning. The Razorbacks scored six more in the third, and that was enough for reliever Autumn Storms, who came on for starter Jenna Bloom in the third to earn her fifth victory of the season.
Malkin was 3-for-3 on the day and added another RBI in the third. Hannah McEwen was 3-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI, and Braxton Burnside was 2-for-2 with 2 RBI.
Lindsey Culver homered for South Dakota State.
In Friday's late game, Mary Haff scattered two hits over four innings and Bloom struck out six in the shutout.
Arkansas took a 4-0 lead in the third inning and leaned on its dominant pitching the rest of the way.
Burnside drove in a pair of runs and McEwen was 2-for-2 with a double.
The Razorbacks are scheduled to play two games today starting with a rematch from Thursday with Boston University at 12:15 p.m., then a 2:30 p.m. contest against Montana.
Sports on 02/22/2020