Razorbacks picked sixth in SEC West

FAYETTEVILLE — Southeastern Conference coaches have picked the Arkansas softball team to finish sixth in the SEC Western Division, the league announced Tuesday afternoon.The Razorbacks, who received 54 points in the coaches’ poll, are set to begin their season Friday under the direction of first-year head coach Mike Larabee.Alabama, ranked No. 2 nationally in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls, led the Western Division with 12 points and was predicted to win the overall conference title. LSU earned one first-place vote and was picked to finish second in the division, with 17 points. Auburn (33 points), Mississippi State (39) and Ole Miss (40) rounded out the SEC West’s top five.In the Eastern Division, Florida led the way with 13 points and three votes for the overall league title. Georgia (18), Tennessee (25), Kentucky (34) and South Carolina (46) rounded out the voting.Points for the poll were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5 basis for the Eastern Division and a 1-2-3-4-5-6 basis for the Western Division. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.Arkansas will take on Western Illinois and Iowa on Friday at the Metrodome Classic in Minneapolis. The Razorbacks also will face Drake, Minnesota and Iowa in the three-day tournament.Southeastern Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Eastern Division Western Division1. Florida (13 points) 1. Alabama (12 points)2. Georgia (18) 2. LSU (17)3. Tennessee (25) 3. Auburn (33)4. Kentucky (34) 4. Mississippi State (39)5. South Carolina (46) 5. Ole Miss (40)
6. Arkansas (54)