No. 19 Sweep of Pigs, inaugurating the SEC series at No. 20 South Carolina

COLUMBIA, SC – For the first time since 2009, Arkansas No. 19 swept a SEC series on the road by winning the weekend’s 3-2 final over South Carolina’s No. 20 in Columbia on Sunday afternoon. Two home runs by Razorback (20-2, 3-0 SEC) from infielder Braxton Burnside and outfielder Linnie Malkin proved to be the difference in the team’s 19th consecutive victory.

How did this happen

Outer defender Sam Torres took a four-shot walk to start the game, and in the fifth shot made by South Carolina starter Kelsey Oh, Burnside smashed a two-run dinger in the middle, giving Arkansas a 2- 0. The product Paragould, Ark. He was honored four times in the series and totaled 15 bombs this season, which is tied for second in a single season in the school’s history. Throughout the year, Arkansas overcame its opposition, 37-6, in the first round.

Much like the entire series, South Carolina struggled, drawing the game 2-2 at the end of the third in a two-race double to the left.

Malkin gave Arkansas everything needed at the start of Wednesday, launching a solo home run undoubtedly to the left for its ninth campaign bomb. The Hogs loaded the bases in the fifth on Torres’ single and walked over to Burnside and infielder Danielle Gibson, but hit back twice, leaving their bags full.

The Gamecocks (13-6, 0-3 SEC) put a runner in a scoring position at the bottom of the fifth, but never threatened beyond that, as Mary Haff closed the door on the last two entrances.

Freshman pitcher Redshirt Jenna Bloom (4-1) recorded the first victory of her career at the SEC and released 4.1 entries, allowing four strokes, two runs won and three walks with three eliminations. Haff did not allow a hitter to hit the base for more than 2.2 clearances and recorded eight eliminations in just 17 shots to win his second defense of the year. Haff eliminated two and reduced his ERA of the season to 0.90. Oh (1-4) was the loser going for 4.0 entries and allowing all three runs.

In 2009, the Hogs won a series of three SEC games in the state of Mississippi (March 17-19), 8-3, 5-1 and 3-2. Arkansas has won five of the last six games in the series of all time against South Carolina.

Arkansas returns home to Bogle Park at 6 pm on Tuesday, March 16, for a single game outside the conference against Liberty.