The University of Arkansas softball team sent Lady'Back Yard and the 2008 seniors out in style with a 7-6 victory and Southeastern Conference series win over No. 23 Mississippi State on Sunday.

In the last regular season game at Lady'Back Yard, senior Katy Henry earned the win in the circle and sophomore Miranda Dixon picked up a save as the Lady Razorbacks (36-27, 8-20 SEC ) tallied 12 hits, including a single by senior Samantha Buckner and a double by senior Dayna Huckabee. The Bulldogs fell to 40-19 and 13-14 in conference play.

" Today was a big series win for us, " said head coach Jamie Pinkerton. " They came out after being eliminated from the SEC Tournament and could have thrown in the towel, but they finished strong and for that I'm probably most proud. It was a sunny day; the grass was green; it was the last game at Lady'Back yard and the last game for our seniors, and it was a fitting way to go out on all accounts. "

Three consecutive singles got Arkansas out to a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Juniors Kayla Johnson and Whitney Cloer each had base hits before sophomore Sandra Smith scored Johnson from second on a single up the middle.

In the second, back-toback singles by Buckner and sophomore Brittany Robison put two runners on. With two outs, Bachkora and Johnson both reached on errors. Pinch runner Brandy Foust crossed the plate and gave Arkansas a 2-0 lead when . In the third, Jessie Bailey and Nakita Boyce singled before Ali Bainbridge and Courtney Bures hit consecutive RBI singles to even the score at two apiece. Junior Jocelyne Moncrief led off the fourth with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a ground out by sophomore Jessica Bachkora. Johnson laced a double down the right field line that plated Moncrief from second and gave the Lady'Backs a 3-2 lead. In the sixth, Bachkora dropped a single into left field, Johnson followed with a single through the left side and Cloer reached on an error to load the bases with one out. Smith then hit a fly ball in the infield that was caught by shortstop Bures. Bures tried to turn and double up Johnson on second, but an errant throw allowed Bachkora to cross the plate. In the next at bat, Dixon hit a three-run home run that put Arkansas up 7-2. The Lady'Backs needed each of those runs as the Bulldogs plated four in the top of the seventh before Dixon entered the game in the circle and the Lady'Backs putout the next three batters to secure the victory. Every Lady'Back in the lineup had a hit, but Johnson led the way going 3 for 4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Dixon added two hits, including a home run, a run scored and three RBIs. " They saw the ball well this series and hit the ball hard, " said Pinkerton. " We're capable of beating anyone in the country when we have all facets of the game going. "

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