SB: Games against UT and Arizona highlight 2015 schedule
11/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
2015 Schedule | Allan Saxe Field Reconstruction Project
By Michael Eldridge | UTAMavs.com
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington softball announced the 2015 schedule on Monday afternoon. The 54-game slate features 25 dates at the newly-reconstructed Allan Saxe Field.
The schedule is highlighted with five matchups with teams from the Power Five conferences, including Arizona, ranked No. 10 in the final 2014 NFCA Coaches Poll, Texas, Ohio State and two games against Texas Tech.
"This spring we are hosting a strong array of nonconference teams as well as heading into our second year of the Sun Belt Conference schedule," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "We are excited to be hosting strong tournaments in our new facility as well as traveling to one of the most well renowned softball schools in Arizona. These tough preseason games will really test this very young team and help prepare them for our strong Sun Belt Conference."
The Mavericks open up the season on Feb. 6 against Tennessee-Martin at the 2015 Lion Classic I hosted by Southeastern Louisiana. The Mavs will also take on Southeastern Louisiana, Texas Southern, Southern University and Nicholls State.
UTA's first home game is against Incarnate Word on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. as part of the Maverick Invitational. The tournament also features a contest against Ohio State on Feb. 14 at 5 p.m.
The Mavericks' second home tournament includes games against Prairie View A&M, UMKC, DePaul and Texas Tech. UTA's showdown against the Red Raiders comes on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.
The team closes out its nonconference slate with trips to Arizona from Feb. 27-March 1 and Texas Tech from March 6-8.
Sun Belt play begins on March 13 against defending SBC champion Louisiana on the road with a three-game set. UTA's SBC home opener is against Georgia Southern with three games scheduled from March 21-22.
"I feel this year the Sun Belt will be a different experience for us," Fox said. "We have a little more knowledge of some of the teams and I think we have gained a lot more confidence in our own abilities over the fall."
Breaking up the conference schedule, UTA faces Abilene Christian in a home-and-home series. The Mavs and Wildcats meet first at Allan Saxe Field on March 17 before the return trip on March 25. UTA will host North Texas on April 1 and then travel to Austin to face Texas on April 15.
UTA concludes its schedule at home against in-state rival Texas State from May 2-3 ahead of the Sun Belt Championship, hosted by the Bobcats and beginning May 6 in San Marcos.
Ticket information to be released at a later date.
