THE

SCORE

Baseball team gets new coach; softball looks to defend title

Baseball coach Darin Thomas seeks his first college win while softball coach Debbie Hedrick continues to build her legacy during the 2008 season.

Thomas, a UT Arlington assistant coach the past seven seasons, became the school's fourth head baseball coach since 1974 after Jeff Curtis resigned in November to pursue business interests. The Mavericks open a 31-game home schedule Feb. 22 against Arkansas-Little Rock at Clay Gould Ballpark.

The softball team enters 2008 in defense of its regular-season Southland Conference title. Senior outfielder Katie Jones is the returning SLC Player of the Year and Hitter of the Year. Sophomore pitcher Heather Fortenberry was last year's Freshman of the Year, while outfielders Kristen Moore and April Clougherty, shortstop Amanda Swofford and pitcher Laura Jones earned all-conference honors.

Last season's SLC Coach of the Year, Hedrick begins her 12th year as head coach with 278 career wins, the most in program history.

The Mavericks open the season with a 16-game road trip before beginning their home schedule March 8 against UT San Antonio at Allan Saxe Field.

For schedules, visit www.utamavs.com.