ARLINGTON, TEXAS – The UT Arlington baseball team opens the 2026 season on the road with a three-game series against Northwestern State at Brown-Stroud Field, beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT. The series marks the official start of the Mavericks' second season under head coach Mike Trapasso and the debut of a heavily retooled roster featuring 22 newcomers. 

GAME NOTES 
UTA begins its second season under head coach Mike Trapasso after finishing 21-33 overall in 2025 and seventh in the Western Athletic Conference. 
The Mavericks enter 2026 with a retooled roster that features 22 newcomers alongside returning core contributors including Caylon Dygert, Xander McAfee, Xavier Melendez and Austin Phillips. 
This weekend marks the opening road test of a non-conference slate that includes matchups against Arkansas, Oklahoma, Baylor, Dallas Baptist, TCU and UTSA. 
UTA's pitching staff will be led this weekend by projected starters Caylon Dygert, Zahradnik and Skolfield as the Mavericks look to set the tone on the mound to open the season. 
Offensively, McAfee returns after ranking among the team leaders last season in batting average, OPS, hits, doubles, triples, home runs and RBIs among returning players. 
Melendez returns after a .320 season at the plate in 2025 with 56 hits, seven home runs and 37 RBIs, while Tyce Armstrong led the club with 11 home runs and 41 RBIs last year. 

LIVE COVERAGE 
UTA at Northwestern State 
Brown-Stroud Field | Natchitoches, Louisiana 
Friday – 6:30 p.m. CT 
Saturday – TBD 
Sunday – 1 p.m. CT 

Live Stats 

ON DECK 
The Mavericks return to North Texas for their home opener at Globe Life Field against TCU on Tuesday. 

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