FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The nationally ranked Arkansas Razorbacks swept a softball doubleheader from North Dakota State on Thursday, Feb. 25, winning the opener 9-0 in five innings and taking the nightcap 5-0 to open the Razorback Invitational.

Arkansas, ranked No. 21 in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 and No. 24 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, hit three home runs on the day and totaled 19 hits while improving to 7-2 on the season.

It was opening day for North Dakota State, which had its first road trip to McNeese State canceled last week due to flight cancellations. The Bison managed just four hits over two games and did not advance a runner past second base.

Arkansas jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first inning of the opener. The Razorbacks got a pair of one-out singles before back-to-back home runs from Linnie Malkin and Hannah Gammill and a two-out RBI single from Larissa Cesena.

NDSU starter Paige Vargas lasted just one inning and took the loss. Kara O'Byrne pitched two innings of relief and Mac Schulz pitched a scoreless fourth inning with two strikeouts. Designated player Ciara Jensen and third baseman Sam Koehn had hits for the Bison.

Lainey Lyle went all six innings in the circle for NDSU in the second game allowing five earned runs on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Center fielder Madyson Camacho and shortstop Skylar Padgett each singled for the Bison.

North Dakota State is scheduled to continue play in the Razorback Invitational against Texas Tech at 10 a.m. and Southeast Missouri State at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26.