Arkansas softball hosts No. 1 Alabama Thursday

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas softball team hosts No. 1 Alabama for a Southeastern Conference doubleheader on Thursday evening at 5 p.m. at Lady’Back Yard. The Lady Razorbacks (32-19, 5-12 SEC) won their last nine out of 10 contests including a sweep of Kentucky on the road last weekend. Sophomore Miranda Dixon holds the title of SEC Pitcher of the Week for her stellar play in the circle. “We’re playing well now,” said head coach Jamie Pinkerton. “We’re clicking and on any given day anyone can beat anyone. That’s the kind of attitude that we have to take into Thursday. We have an opportunity to play the number one team in the nation on our field. The margin of error is very thin. With the type of team that Alabama is, we just have to go out and play our game.” Arkansas was on top of its game last weekend launching nine home runs to take three games from the Wildcats and increase its season home run count to 59. The Lady’Backs have the fourth most home runs in the nation and rank 10th with 1.18 long balls per game. Dixon threw her second shutout of the year and won two out of three contests. She gave up just one earned run and allowed no more than three hits in any game last week. The Edmond, Okla., native hit .333 with four hits, a double, a home run and four RBI. The Crimson Tide come in the doubleheader as the top-ranked team in the nation with a 39-3 overall record and a 19-2 mark in league play. Alabama has an SEC-best .346 team batting average and is second to the Lady’Backs in home runs with 54. The Tide lost an exhibition game against Team USA 7-0 on Tuesday. They were scoreless and hitless in the contest. The Lady’Backs are 7-32 against Alabama in the all-time series. The Crimson Tide won the last 17 games against Arkansas and are also on an 18-game winning streak coming into Thursday. Live stats and live audio are available for the doubleheader on LADYBACKS.COM. A live broadcast is also available on KXUA 88.3 FM in Fayetteville. For tickets or more information please call the Razorback Ticket Office and 57-LBACK or log on to LADYBAKCS.COM.