UA softball awaiting word on NCAA berth

BY DAVID SHOWERS Northwest Arkansas Times

Posted on Friday, May 9, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/64972/

The Arkansas Lady Razorback softball team’s chances of continuing the 2008 campaign rest on a slim reed of hope.

Earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament will be no mean feat for the Lady’Backs (36-27, 8-20 ). Arkansas finished last in the SEC West and missed out on the conference tournament. Despite the long odds, the Lady’Backs haven’t given up on hearing their name called Sunday night when the NCAA selection committee announces the tournament field.

Arkansas remains positive, but coach Jamie Pinkerton said the Lady’Backs are at the mercy of the committee.

“ We’ve put ourselves in that position, ” Pinkerton said. “ That starts with me. There’s some series that you look back at and whether it be decisions on who we started pitching-wise or not having them ready and fired up, that rests on my head. I’m to blame for that. Hopefully when it comes out at 9 o’clock Sunday night we’ll have an opportunity.

“ The bad point is it’s in someone else’s hands. We were our own worst enemy when it came to that. ”

Pinkerton said the Lady’Backs are worthy of consideration. Many of the numbers that inform the committee’s decision are in Arkansas’ favor.

“ If you look at our résumé, we’re 37-26, ” Pinkerton said. “ Our RPI in the last NCAA ranking was 39. I think if you’re 43 or 44 you’re really in danger. We really don’t have any bad losses. I think the committee looks at the strength of schedule, which I think we’re 23 rd. There’s a lot of things that go into it. ”

If the Lady’Backs ’ season is over, it ended on a high note. Their series win over No. 23 Mississippi State last weekend at Lady’Back Yard was only their second over a conference opponent this season. The 7-6 win Sunday was Arkansas’ last game at Lady’Back Yard. Next year they’ll move into their new digs at Bogle Park.

“ It was a good weekend, ” Pinkerton said. “ We had an opportunity to play a nationally-ranked team at home. It was the last game at Lady’Back Yard, so it was good to send Lady’Back Yard out on a winning note and play for hopefully what may be an opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament.

“ It’s kind one of those things where you’re pulling for all the favorites right now, because obviously we’re a bubble team. We’re just going to await word next Sunday on the NCAA selection committee. ”

This year was a record-setting year for Arkansas offensively. The Lady’Backs established program-bests in batting average (. 267 ), slugging percentage (. 436 ), on-base percentage (. 339 ), runs scored (287 ), home runs (62 ), RBIs (255 ), total bases (711 ) and walks (151 ).

Arkansas ’ offensive production significantly outstripped its numbers from last year. Arkansas scored 111 more runs, had 105 more RBIs, 65 more hits, 29 more doubles and 34 more home runs than last season.

“ Overall I thought we hit the ball really well, ” Pinkerton said. “ We had a lot of program-bests offensively. In my time here that’s been a struggle for us to score runs. This club pretty much rewrote the record books on the offensive side.

“ We’re rebuilding foundations there. We just have to fit a couple of pieces to the puzzle. Hopefully we’re real close to be nationally ranked ourselves. ”