FAYETTEVILLE — Katy Henry wasn’t sure she wanted to drive through the Bobby Hopper Tunnel on Interstate 540 the day she was supposed to report for her sophomore season at Arkansas.

“She said when she got on the other side of the tunnel, she decided she’d come back and play,” Arkansas Coach Jamie Pinkerton said. “That’s how tough the first year was... and for Katie’s sake, I’m glad she drove through that tunnel.”

More than two years and 600 innings pitched later, Henry, a senior right-hander from Poteau, Okla., made another road trip earlier this week. This time she was headed back to Oklahoma, where Arkansas will make only the third NCAA regional appearance in its 12-year history, and its first since 2002. Arkansas (36-27 ) meets Tulsa (34-23 ) at 5 p. m. Central today in a first-round game at the OU Softball Complex in Norman. “It just feels like we’ve worked so hard and now we finally get some kind of reward for it,” Henry said. Henry’s toil and troubles began during her freshman season,

2 when she worked 149 / 3 innings, going 7-17 during a season in which Arkansas went 19-43 in its first year under Pinkerton. Those were trying times for the Lady Razorbacks.

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“The first year was not easy,” Pinkerton said. “I was not easy to live with.”

The struggles were such that Henry, who had been recruited by former coach Carie Dever-Boaz, wasn’t sure she wanted to continue playing at Arkansas. Things didn’t get significantly easier after she finally decided to return, and Henry has thrown 600-plus innings over the past three seasons, often as Arkansas’ lone effective threat in the pitcher’s circle.

Henry trails only Tammy Kincaid, who pitched nearly every inning of Arkansas’ inaugural season in 1997, in career appearances with 177. Henry also ranks among the top three in victories (55 ), saves (9 ), strikeouts (743 ) and three other pitching categories.

“That tells you the kind of drive and determination she has,” Pinkerton said.

Henry’s place in the school record books hasn’t come without a price. Working more than 200 innings in each of the past three seasons has taken its toll on her shoulder. Inflammation, tightness and chronic pain have become all too familiar happenings.

Still, before this season began, Henry had a message for Pinkerton.

“I told him if he needed me to pitch 400 innings this year and my shoulder feels like it’s going to fall off, it’s OK,” Henry said. “I have the rest of my life to recover.”

Henry graduated last week with an English degree and will return to begin work on a master’s degree in secondary education this fall. This week, though, she is concentrating on making the most of her remaining time as a Lady Razorback.

Henry is expected to start against Tulsa today, but only after some anxious moments watching the NCAA selection show last week at her uncle’s home in Oklahoma. Because Arkansas wasn’t one of eight teams to qualify for the SEC Tournament, most of the Lady Razorbacks tried to keep a lid on their NCAA aspirations.

“I really wanted to make it, but I was counting on not making it because I didn’t want to get my hopes up,” Henry said.

Even as her father screamed with joy when Arkansas’ name appeared on the television screen, Henry was momentarily dumbfounded.

“I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, that’s the team I play for,’” Henry said with a laugh. “I kind of lost it for a second.”

After regaining her composure, Henry began getting ready for another trip from Poteau to Fayetteville. That trip included another passage through the Bobby Hopper Tunnel, and this time there was no doubt whether Henry was ready to put on the Arkansas uniform again.

“I think the most important thing is that nobody really gave up,” Henry said. “Everybody just kept playing and trying to win and trying to battle it out.

“ Yeah, we didn’t make it to the SEC Tournament, but this was our ultimate goal.” NCAA Norman Regional At OU Softball Complex, Norman, Okla. All times Central

TODAY’S GAMES Game 1 Arkansas (36-27 ) vs. Tulsa (34-23 ), 5 p. m. Game 2 Oregon (33-27 ) at Oklahoma (43-12 ), 7: 30 p. m. SATURDAY’S GAMES Game 3 Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p. m. Game 4 Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3: 30 p. m. Game 5 Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p. m. SUNDAY’S GAMES Game 6 Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 1 p. m. Game 7 Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 3: 30 p. m., if necessary Katy Henry glance COLLEGE Arkansas POSITION Pitcher CLASS Senior HEIGHT 5-8 AGE 22 (born Oct. 28, 1985 ) HOMETOWN Poteau, Okla. HIGH SCHOOL Poteau NOTEWORTHY Won 100 games in high school, striking out more than 1, 100 batters and setting six school records.... Had team highs in victories and strikeouts as a freshman at Arkansas.... Has pitched 600-plus innings over the past three seasons and ranks among Arkansas’ top three in career victories (55 ), saves (9 ), strikeouts (743 ) and three other pitching categories.... Earned a degree in English and plans to start work on a master’s in secondary education in the fall.