Burnside, Haff earn 2021 All-America honors

Lady Razorback shortstop, pitcher recognized by softball coaches association

arkansasrazorbacks.com FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas shortstop Braxton Burnside, a senior from Paragould, earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association first-team All-America honors on Wednesday.

Burnside and Mary Haff, the SEC Pitcher of the Year, became the first players in program history to garner first-team honors, while first baseman Danielle Gibson earned second-team recognition.

Before this season, the Razorbacks had only two All-Americans in program history.

Burnside smashed a singleseason school record 24 home runs, which ranked second in the country and tied for third in SEC history. She was named to the All-SEC and NFCA All-Region First Teams, a USA Softball Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist and a twotime SEC Player of the Week.

The former Paragould High School standout slashed .347/.497/.889 with her slugging percentage ranking 13th nationally, and her 51 RBI tied for the team lead. Burnside and Northern Iowa shortstop Sammey Bunch were the country’s only two players to score and drive in at least 50 runs while walking more than 35 times.

Four times this season Burnside belted two home runs in a game. She hit five home runs over a threegame stretch in late February. From Feb. 22 through April 25 the graduate student reached base in 37 straight games.

Only regular-season statistics counted during the voting process. Burnside launched another home run in the NCAA Tournament.

Arkansas (43-11) swept the four-team Fayetteville Regional to open the NCAAs before losing twice to Arizona in a best-ofthree super regional last weekend.

Haff ranked fifth nationally in wins and saves, logging a 23-5 record with five saves and a 1.61 ERA over 170 innings pitched.

Gibson paced the SEC coregular season champion Razorbacks in batting average (.369) and finished second in slugging percentage behind Burnside, finishing the season with 16 doubles, 15 home runs and 51 RBI.