2015 Softball Schedule | UT Arlington Roster

By Hannah Barnett | UTAMavs.com

ARLINGTON, Texas -- UT Arlington softball welcomes another Datko to its roster. Bryanna Datko, younger sister to sophomore infielder Marisa Datko, is one of the two catchers behind the plate this season.

This is not the first time the sister duo has played together. Both are graduates of Scripps Ranch High School in San Diego, Calif. where they earned two Eastern League Championships. Along with playing for the same high school, the girls played two years on competitive select organizations.

Marisa knows playing together in the past has been a big help for the present.

"I've played with her all my life so it is something that I am very familiar with," Marisa said. "Because of the amount of time we have spent playing together, we know each other's strengths and weaknesses and are able to help each other get better."

Playing together at UTA has not only been a positive on the softball field.

"Having Bryanna here makes me feel more at home because I always have a part of my family here with me in Texas," Marisa said.

Bryanna comes into the program having received first and second team Eastern League and Defensive player of the year. She is not only looking forward to getting on the field once again with her sister, but her new teammates as well.

"It had been amazing playing college ball so far and I can't wait for the season to start," Bryanna said. "It looks like we are going to have a strong, competitive team and I can't wait"

The girls are not the first members of their family to play collegiate softball. The Datko's have two older sisters, both former Division I athletes. Marisa and Bryanna said seeing their sister's success helped get them to where they are today.

"Having them both be Division I athletes made me want to push myself to be just as good and even better than them in college," Marisa said. "The one thing I do know is that if it wasn't for all three of my sisters, I wouldn't be where I am."