Hannah Camenzind tossed a complete-game shutout and the 10th-ranked Arkansas softball team punished Mississippi State with its bats in an 11-0 run-rule win Saturday in Starkville, Miss.
The freshman from Valley, Neb., pitched to her twin sister, catcher Lauren Camenzind, and blanked the Bulldogs in five innings. She earned her first win in her third start. Camenzind allowed 4 hits and struck out 3 with 64 pitches thrown.
Arkansas (26-9, 7-4 SEC) was able to grab a 4-0 lead before the Bulldogs could record the game’s second out. The Razorbacks chased Mississippi State starting pitcher Josey Marron on just 13 pitches after she walked 3, hit 1 batter, had a wild pitch and allowed a 2-run double to Kacie Hoffmann.
Things got heated in the third inning after Mississippi State (23-12, 3-4) appeared to trim the deficit with a two-run home run from Chloe Malau’ulu, but umpires ruled Macy Graf left first base before the pitch. She was called out and the play dead, which sent Bulldogs associate coach Tyler Bratton into an angry outburst, resulting in an ejection.
Bratton marched to first base while continuing to yell at the umpires, pulled the bag out and tossed it on his way out. Malau’ulu struck out two pitches later.
The Razorbacks scored four runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-out single by Cylie Halvorson to score Regan Johnson and Raigan Kramer.
Arkansas added three runs in the fifth inning, capped by a two-run double by Rylin Hedgecock down the left-field line. That pushed the score to the 11-0 final.
Johnson led the Arkansas hitters, going 3 for 3, while Halvorson had 3 RBI and 2 hits. The Razorbacks out-hit the Bulldogs 9-4.
The win cemented a series victory — Arkansas’ third consecutive after dropping the SEC opening series to Texas A&M.
The Razorbacks will aim to complete a three-game sweep Sunday at noon.