Home opener kicks off SEC play

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas softball team hosts the first home series of the season against Auburn in the first Southeastern Conference series of the year at Bogle Park, March 11-13.

The Razorbacks (9-12) play their first home series of the season after 21 straight road games. Five of those games have been against top-15 ranked opponents, including a 4-3 extra-inning win over then-No.1 UCLA in February.

"It would be nice to come out and get some revenge from last year," head coach Mike Larabee said. "Also, it’s going to be nice to just be home and open up with a night game on Friday night."

Most recently, the Hogs suffered a 12-0 loss to No. 18/t14 Missouri in Columbia. The Razorbacks welcome the Auburn Tigers, who are ranked 24/25 with a 19-2 record so far this season. Auburn holds an all-time record of 25-20 against Arkansas. In 2010, Arkansas was swept by the Tigers with three one-run losses.

Sophomore Courtney Breault leads the Razorbacks with a .365 batting average after starting each of Arkansas’ 21 games. Senior Becca Carden is ties for third in the SEC with three triples and leads the Razorbacks with three home runs and 14 total runs.

Sophomore Hope McLemore has a 4-4 record on the season with a total of 37.2 innings pitched. She allowed just two runs off five hits and didn’t walk a single batter last weekend at the USF Under Armour Invitational.

The Razorbacks open up with a 7 p.m. first pitch against Auburn on Friday. Saturday’s game begins at 1 p.m. and the series wraps up on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Bogle Park.