May 29, 2006

ARLINGTON, Texas - The 2006 Southland Conference Tournament champion UT-Arlington baseball team will be heading to the Austin Regional to take on defending national champion Texas in the opening round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Disch-Falk Field and can be seen live on ESPNU. The other opening round matchup with feature second-seeded North Carolina State taking on third-seeded Stanford at 11 a.m.

The Mavs are no strangers to Austin or the Longhorns as the two team's squared off on April 11 with the Mavericks coming away with a 6-3 victory behind a strong pitching performance from freshman Kyle Gainley. The Horns lead the all-time series 50-15 with all 65 games played in Austin. UTA has never played NC State or Stanford.

UTA is making its fourth trip to the Regionals and their third trip to Austin. The Mavs made their first NCAA appearance in 1990 in the Austin Regional, falling to Texas 9-8 in the opening round and 8-5 to Clemson in the second round. The Mavs returned to the Austin Regional in 1992 with the same results, an 11-6 loss to Clemson and a 17-1 defeat to UT. The 2001 tournament sent the Mavs to the Houston Regional. After dropping the opener to Rice, 11-4, the Mavs won their first ever tournament game over Houston, 7-6. UTA would fall second time to the Owls 14-2.

The tournament will continue Saturday morning at 11 a.m. with the loser's bracket game followed at 3 p.m. with the winner's bracket. All games in the Regional can be seen live on ESPNU.