McEwen, Storms land on All-SEC softball teams

Arkansas baserunner Hannah McEwen rounds third base to score a run against Arkansas-Pine Bluff during an NCAA softball game on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 in Fayetteville. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

Arkansas outfielder Hannah McEwen and pitcher Autumn Storms were named to All-SEC teams by the league's coaches on Tuesday.

McEwen, a first-team selection, became the first Arkansas player to finish the regular season with a batting average above .400. Her .402 average is the program's highest since Stephanie Canfield hit .381 in 2013.

She is one of only three Razorbacks to earn All-SEC honors in back-to-back seasons and the second to garner first-team honors, joining Devon Wallace in 2012.

"She's just so incredibly consistent and she very rarely has a bad at-bat ever," Arkansas coach Courtney Deifel said last week. "She always knows what she wants to do. She knows what she is looking for. She has continued to get better and more consistent as the season has gone on and, really, against better competition."

Storms, who was named SEC Pitcher of the Week after going 2-0 and striking out eight Auburn batters over 13 innings pitched last weekend, was selected second team All-SEC.

Storms won a team-high 20 games in 40 appearances during the regular season and carries a 1.54 ERA into Arkansas’ meeting with Georgia in the SEC Tournament on Wednesday. She has struck out a career-high 163 batters and issued only 28 walks in 186.1 innings pitched.

“She’s just pitching the best I’ve seen her pitch,” Deifel told WholeHogSports on May 2. “She’s stronger and healthier than she’s ever been. She’s been a huge competitor for us all year.”