Vegas bound

FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas softball team heads to the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., Feb. 18-20, after opening the 2011 season with a 3-2 record last weekend.

Last weekend, the Razorbacks faced four opponents in five games and came up with a 2-0 start on opening day of the 2011 season. Arkansas topped Prairie View A&M 14-1 and came back to win 6-5 in a close nine-inning game against Sam Houston State.

"We were ahead of where I thought we would be last weekend," head coach Mike Larabee said. "Offensively we did some great things. Becca Carden really got around the bases well also."

During the 25th Annual Louisiana Classics in Lafayette, La., the Hogs broke the record for most triples in a single game. Linnea Ketcher, Tori Mort, Becca Carden, Jennifer Rambo and Chloe Oprzedek each picked up a triple during the Hogs 16-0 win over Prairie View A&M on Feb. 11. The previous record was three triples in a single game, which was set in the Hogs game vs. Centenary on March 7, 1999.

The Razorbacks face five teams this weekend starting Friday afternoon. First on the ticket is defending national champion UCLA. The Bruins started the season with a 5-0 record and face Cal State-Fullerton during a mid-week game before heading to the desert for weekend No. 2 of softball. Host UNLV holds a 2-2 record and meets the Razorbacks after a date with the Nevada Wolf Pack on Friday. The Rebels topped Mississippi State last weekend 10-9 in the season opener for both teams.

Oregon and Long Beach State face the Hogs on Saturday, Feb. 19. Oregon is ranked No. 14 going into the weekend. Last weekend, Oregon picked up a 4-1 win over Ole Miss during opening weekend. A 4-0 record accompanies LBSU coming into the weekend. The 49ers beat Boise State and Loyola Marymount twice last weekend and only allowed four runs the whole weekend.

"I can’t wait to get out there. We are really going to have to step up our pitching and our defense this weekend," Larabee said.

Last to face the Hogs is Utah on Sunday at 11 a.m. The Utes met and beat Ole Miss in the season opener 10-0. Utah topped 12th-ranked Arizona State but fell to two other top-25 teams. Utah goes into the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic with a 3-1 record overall.

Arkansas faced 2010 Women’s College World Series champion UCLA on Friday, Feb. 18 at 3:30 p.m. to start the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic.