After a rocky start to the 2013 season the Arkansas Softball team has found their stride.
"We started off a little rough, but we are peaking at the right time," said sophomore pitcher Kimmy Beasley. "We are winning the games we need to in order to get where we need to be."
The team has certainly been peaking at the right time. Over the last four weeks they have taken down numerous top 25 teams and have found themselves ranked in the National Polls for the first time in program history.
Their winning ways began with a sweep of No. 22 Georgia. Followed by a win against No. 13 LSU. They won both series verse No. 8 Missouri and No. 17 Kentucky. And this past weekend won the first game of the series against No. 2 Tennessese. The rest of the Tennessee series was cancelled due to rain.
"I think we finally figured out we can hang with anyone," said sophomore utility player Devon Wallace. "I think at the beginning of the season we were playing like we shouldn't win and playing a little scared. Now we are playing with a lot of confidence."
"In the past they took the field and hoped they were going to win," said Head Coach Mike Larabee. "Now over the last five or six weeks they have the mind set that they expect to win."
Ever since Coach Larabee took over as head coach four years ago he has been turning the program around. Last year he lead Arkansas to their first ever NCAA Regional Final. This year he has helped them have one of there best regular seasons in school history.
"He means everything, he is the heart of this team," said Wallace. "Coach Larabee is so positive all the time he is just someone you know you can trust as a coach."
With one series remaining before the SEC tournament the team has their goals set high. They want to win an SEC Championship and go on to the College World Series and win an National Championship.
"We know that if we play excellent softball, we don't have to be perfect, but if we play excellent softball we can beat any team in the country," said Larabee.
The team kicks off their final series of the season against Auburn Friday night at Bogle Park.