Lady'Backs play last series in Starkville

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas softball team travels to Starkville, Miss., Friday, May 4, and Saturday, May 5, to face Southeastern Conference foe Mississippi State in its last regular-season series. Friday’s doubleheader begins at 5 p.m. and Saturday’s first pitch is at 1 p.m. The Lady Razorbacks enter the weekend 20-41 overall and 5-20 in the SEC. The Bulldogs have an overall record of 32-23 and are 12-13 in league play. Mississippi State dropped its last SEC series to Florida while the Lady’Backs fell to Georgia. Arkansas is out of contention for the 2007 SEC Softball Tournament, but the Bulldogs clinched a berth in the tournament and currently hold the fifth seed. “Against Mississippi State, we’re playing for pride and some momentum into summer workouts and the fall season,” said head coach Jamie Pinkerton. “These ladies have the opportunity and the privilege to play Division I softball and when they step between the lines they still need to have a competitive fire. We need to go out and play the game the way it’s supposed to be played this weekend.” Freshman Jessica Bachkora continues to be the driving force of the Arkansas offense and fights to finish the season batting above .300. Bachkora leads the team with a .291 batting average, 30 runs, 55 hits, 10 doubles, a single-season record, five triples, and a .340 on-base percentage. The Bulldogs are led by Chelsea Bramlett with a .399 batting average, 51 runs, 77 hits and 45 stolen bases. In 2006, Arkansas took one game from Mississippi State, but lost the series at home. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 23-14 and won the last five out of six meetings. Fans can follow all the Lady’Back softball action live this weekend. The SEC series will air on LADYBACKS.COM and fans in Fayetteville can tune in to KXUA 88.3 FM to hear the action. For more information about Arkansas softball, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.