Softball set for Tulsa at NCAA Regional

NORMAN, Okla. – The University of Arkansas softball team is at the NCAA Regional site at the University of Oklahoma and is ready to take on Tulsa Friday at 5 p.m. for its first game of the Division I Softball Championship. This is the Lady Razorbacks’ third trip to the NCAA Tournament in 12 seasons of softball. Arkansas reached regionals in 2002 and 2000 and played both in Norman, Okla. Fourth-year head coach Jamie Pinkerton and his players take their first postseason trip. “As a team, we’re all very excited about the opportunity to go to Norman and play in the regional,” said Pinkerton. “Winning is a habit. We’re still framing the house and we want this to become a habit. This is another block in the building of the program that will help us get on down the road and help with recruiting; and with the new stadium coming, hopefully this will become a yearly trip.” Arkansas has had one of the best seasons in school history with program bests in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs scored, home runs, RBI, total bases and walks. The Lady’Backs look to continue that success in the postseason against a field that consists of Tulsa from Conference USA, Big 12 school and No. 7 Oklahoma and Pacific 10 team Oregon. “I’m excited about the field,” Pinkerton said. “We know two of the teams really well and it is very competitive. It is a very evenly matched field.” The Lady’Backs are 2-4 in regional play and 12-20 lifetime against the teams playing in Norman. Arkansas is 8-6 versus Tulsa, 1-13 against the Sooners and 3-1 when playing the Ducks. The Lady’Backs represent one of a tournament-high eight Southeastern Conference schools that made the NCAA Tournament and are the first SEC team to advance to the championship without competing in the SEC Tournament. “We are the #1 conference when it comes to bids,” said Pinkerton. “When we’re on the field and between the lines (in the SEC), it’s always a fight. I think that going out every day and playing that type of competition has only made us better and put us in the position that we’re in.” Arkansas is seeded second in the regional with host Oklahoma taking the first seed. Tulsa is the three seed and Oregon is seeded fourth. The Lady’Backs face Tulsa on Friday and will take on the Sooners or the Ducks on Saturday. The regional is double-elimination with the regional champion being decided on Sunday at 1 p.m. All of the games will be broadcast live on LADYBACKS.COM. Saturday and Sunday’s contests will also be available on KXUA 88.3 FM Fayetteville. Live stats are also on the Lady’Backs’ website. For more information about Arkansas softball, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.