Lady'Backs host No. 23 Mississippi State in final home series

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas softball team hosts No. 23 Mississippi State in the last home series of the year with a doubleheader on Saturday. The Lady Razorback seniors Samantha Buckner, Katy Henry and Dayna Huckabee will be honored prior to the first pitch on Sunday at 1 p.m. “Our three seniors will be playing their final home game in a Lady Razorback uniform and there’s going to be emotions,” said head coach Jamie Pinkerton. “There’s still a lot at stake. We need to focus on continuing to get better. We lose three seniors and have a lot of players coming back. An at large bid (to the NCAA Tournament) may still be in the cards, but we want to play and build towards the fall and next season.” Sunday’s contest also marks the final regular season game at Lady’Back Yard. Bogle Park is under construction and the Lady’Backs will play the 2009 season in the new facility. Arkansas enters the weekend with a 34-26 record and is 6-19 in Southeastern Conference play. The Lady’Backs split their last doubleheader against Missouri State on Tuesday. After dropping the first game, Arkansas run ruled the Bears in five innings. Mississippi State (39-17, 12-12 SEC) is ranked 23rd. This weekend’s series determines the Bears’ seed for the SEC Tournament. Junior Kayla Johnson continues to pace the Lady’Backs with a .335 average. The Bartlesville, Okla., native has team highs in hits (64), runs (48) and total bases (105), and adds six stolen bases. Sophomore Jessica Bachkora has enhanced the Lady’Backs offense in conference play tallying 23 hits, 12 runs and a .311 batting average. Sophomore Miranda Dixon leads the pitching staff with a 1.91 ERA and also has a team-high 42 RBI. Senior Katy Henry is tops with 17 wins, three shutouts and 172 K’s. Mississippi State split with then No. 10 Tennessee last weekend and is 7-3 in its last 10 contests. The Bulldogs are led by Chelsea Bramlett with a .443 average, 78 hits, 44 runs and 41 stolen bases. Bramlett has the second most stolen bases in the league. The Lady’Backs are 15-25 against MSU and took one game from the Bulldogs in each of the last two series. All three games will be broadcast on KXUA 88.3 FM Fayetteville and on LADYBACKS.COM. Live stats are also available on the website. For tickets or more information, please call the Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK or log on to LADYBACKS.COM.