McDowell Named SEC Freshman of the Week
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas infielder Ella McDowell has been named SEC Freshman of the Week after her performance during the Razorbacks’ sweep of Kentucky this past weekend, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon.
McDowell posted a .429 batting average during the weekend with three hits, a home run, three RBI, two walks, and a run scored while posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage featuring numerous impressive plays at third base. McDowell put the final touches on the Razorbacks’ first home SEC sweep since April 29 – May 1, 2022, when she stepped to the plate to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning of Sunday’s series finale and smashed a 1-1 pitch from Kentucky pitcher Carson Fall over the wall in center field for a game-winning solo home run which ultimately gave Arkansas a 2-1 victory over the Wildcats.
McDowell has made an immediate impact during her first season on The Hill. The Richmond, Texas, product is batting .337 with 32 hits, three doubles, a triple, five home runs and 28 RBI in addition to 12 walks and 17 runs scored. Defensively, McDowell has posted a .985 fielding percentage with just one error in 67 chances.
The selection marks the second consecutive week a Razorbacks freshman has received the honor, as Payton Burnham previously did on March 25 after throwing 6.1 shutout innings in which she struck out five batters and allowed just three hits and three walks in a series-clinching win at No. 7 Tennessee. It is also the first time in program history that Arkansas has had an SEC Freshman of the Week in consecutive weeks.
The No. 12/13 Arkansas Razorbacks are 26-7 this season with a 6-6 mark in SEC play and are coming off back-to-back series wins over No. 7 Tennessee (March 22-24) and Kentucky (March 28-30). Arkansas will travel to Gainesville, Fla., this weekend (April 4-6) for a three-game SEC series at No. 2/3 Florida.
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