Lady'Backs Open Season in California

FAYETTEVILLE-The University of Arkansas softball team opens the 2005 season at the Mustang Roundup in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Feb. 4-6, with action beginning Friday, Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. when the Lady Razorbacks meet Sacramento State.

Arkansas will meet Nevada, Friday at 4 p.m. On Saturday, the Lady’Backs face Colorado State at 4 p.m. followed by Cal Poly at 6:30 p.m. Arkansas concludes the tournament with Colorado State at 11 a.m. Sunday.

First-year head coach Jamie Pinkerton said the first tournament of the season should be an indicator of the Lady’Backs progress.

“I think it is a good opening test,” Pinkerton said. “Colorado State is a very good team winning 40 games last year. Sacramento State is always solid. Nevada who I have a great deal of respect for could pose some match-up problems with pitching. They have players that can knock the ball out of the park.”

Pinkerton said the Arkansas crew will use speed as its main asset in the opening weekend contest.

“We have a lot of speed,” Pinkerton said. “With this team we are going to manufacture runs, we’re going to move runners, we’re going to sacrifice, we’re going to hit and run, we’re going to steal bases and we’re going to take the extra bases. I think you are going to see an aggressive style on the base paths. We want to force the opponent into mistakes.”

For more information on Arkansas softball, log on to www.ladybacks.com.