Three Arkansas softball players were named to the preseason All-SEC team on Thursday.
The league’s head coaches voted Razorbacks infielder Braxton Burnside, outfielder Hannah McEwen and pitcher Autumn Storms to the 17-player team. Arkansas is one of three teams — LSU, Alabama — with at least three representatives.
A senior from Paragould, Burnside finished the shortened 2020 season with a team-leading 31 hits, a .392 batting average, five home runs and 20 RBIs. She did not play for the Razorbacks in 2019 after transferring from Missouri.
McEwen, a redshirt junior and San Diego native, is now a two-time preseason All-SEC selection. She is the only SEC player to lead her team in batting average the last three seasons. Her .371 career average is the best mark in program history.
McEwen recorded six doubles and was second on the team in hits (27) in 2020.
Storms, Arkansas’ star pitcher from California, led the SEC with 11 wins last season and held opponents to a .225 average. Her 59 career wins rank third in program history.
Storms has also been named to the preseason All-SEC team for the second consecutive season.
The Razorbacks are ranked 18th in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll and 21st by ESPN/USA Softball. Arkansas is scheduled to open its season Feb. 12-14 with five games in the Best on the Bayou Classic in Monroe, La.