Feb. 7, 2006

ARLINGTON, Texas - The University of Texas at Arlington baseball team will be challenged throughout the 2006 season as the schedule has been rated the 51st toughest schedule in NCAA Division I by www.boydsworld.com. The team's non-conference schedule is rated the 27th toughest schedule. Texas State has the toughest schedule in the Southland Conference at 46th overall and 20th in non-conference.

"We feel the schedule may be the strongest we have had since this coaching staff has been here," said fifth-year head coach Jeff Curtis. "We are scheduled to play more games during the regular season than any season before."

The 31-game non-conference schedule includes games against defending national champion and preseason favorite Texas and College World Series participant Baylor, along with NCAA Tournament qualifiers Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oral Roberts and TCU. The Mavs will also face the likes of Dallas Baptist, Hawai'i, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M.

The extended schedule is due to the teams first-ever trip to Hawai'i for the First Hawai'i Title Rainbow Tournament. The strong field includes host Hawai'i along with nationally ranked Arkansas and Washington.

UTA, picked fourth in the SLC preseason polls, returns just five players from last year's squad that went 26-32 and 14-13 in conference play. Sophomore Dillon Gee (5-8, 5.58 ERA) is the only returner on the mound and is scheduled to be the opening day starter this season.

The Mavs open the 2006 season on Friday against Louisiana Tech. The three-game series begins at 6 p.m. with GameTracker available via the official athletics website www.utamavs.com.