Lady'Backs To Conclude Fall Season Saturday

FAYETTEVILLE—The University of Arkansas softball team finishes the fall season Saturday, Oct. 2, with its third scrimmage the Lady Razorbacks have hosted this preseason. The Lady’Backs host Carl Albert State College, Evangel University and Southwest Missouri State at Lady’Back Yard in a round-robin format tournament starting at 9:30 a.m. Arkansas opens the day with Carl Albert at 9:30 a.m., followed by Evangel at 11:30 a.m. and Southwest Missouri State at 7:30 p.m. in the night cap. Head coach Jamie Pinkerton said he hopes the last three games of the fall give the Lady’Backs a boost going into the off-season. “We want to go out on a high note,” he said. “Our record isn’t as important as trying different looks and lineups. Hopefully, we’ll go out and play well and continue to get better.” The Lady’Backs take a 6-0 record into the final day of the preseason. Junior Shana Easley leads the Lady’Back offense with a .583 batting average while senior Ashley Carter adds a team high nine hits with a .563 batting average. In the circle, sophomore Sarah Topham (2-0) paces the Lady’Backs as she hasn’t allowed a hit in 11 innings. Topham recorded 17 strikeouts in two starts. As a team, the Lady’Back pitching staff has a 0.86 ERA. Six Arkansas pitchers combined for 50 strikeouts and allowed 24 hits. The Lady’Backs are perfect around the bases with 11 stolen bases. Sophomore Rachel LeMaster leads the squad with four and junior Mindy O’Malley adds three. In the opener, Arkansas faces Carl Albert, a junior college squad that finished the 2004 season at the junior college national tournament. In addition to Evangel, a NAIA school, the Lady’Backs end the preseason with Division I SMS. Pinkerton said the final series allows the coaches to establish a starting lineup for the spring season that begins in four months. “We are obviously going to use the last tournament to answer questions for the coaching staff to determine the starters for the opener on Feb. 4,” he said. The Lady’Backs begin the 2005 season Feb. 4-6 at the California Polytechnic State Tournament in San Luis Obispo, Calif. For the home opener, Arkansas hosts the Lady’Back Invitational Feb. 26-27 in Fayetteville. For more information on Arkansas softball, log on to www.ladybacks.com.