TYLER, TEXAS – The University of Texas at Tyler softball team has added a pair of doubleheaders against the University of Montevallo in Madisonville, Texas following the cancellation of the Irwin Classic.
With inclement weather predicted for the Northeast Texas region this weekend, #4 UT Tyler will head a few hours south for two doubleheaders against the University of Montevallo at the Madisonville High School softball complex in Madisonville, Texas. Those contests are currently scheduled for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday, both starting at 1 p.m.
The four games this weekend for UT Tyler will get the Patriots some much needed non-conference preparation prior to the start of their Lone Star Conference schedule after being unable to compete in the UCO Classic last weekend. UT Tyler enters the 2021 season ranked no. 4 in the 2021 NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, one spot ahead of LSC rival Angelo State.
UT Tyler will get a preview of three Lone Star Conference foes in Texas A&M International, St. Edward's and Angelo State next weekend at the ASU George and Ola McCorkle Challenge in San Angelo, Texas.
A LOOK AT THE POLLS
UT Tyler proved to be among the nation's best despite the transition into the NCAA Division II level last season, finishing the shortened 2020 campaign with a 17-3 overall record. The Patriots appeared as the no. 5 ranked team in the final NFCA Division II Coaches Poll released back on April 8, and will look to maintain their standing as a top-five nationally-ranked team in the 2021 opening weekend.
The Patriots were selected to finish second behind Oklahoma Christian in the 2021 Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll despite entering the season as the highest nationally-ranked LSC program. UT Tyler went 5-3 in their first season competing in a Lone Star Conference schedule.
SEASONED OFFENSIVE TALENT
A strong core of veteran offensive fire power will return for the 2021 season as five different Patriots that hit better than .350 in the 2021 season figure to return to the lineup. All five of those individuals (
Serena Saldivar,
Mak Dominguez,
Haleigh Swinney,
Kylie Brown and
Ashley Perez) are upper classman in 2021 and have developed into some of the LSC's top offensive talents during their time in the program.
Saldivar ranked second in the Lone Star Conference in on-base percentage (.538) in 2020 and fourth in the league with 24 RBI's in just 20 games. The Patriots as a club will return a total of 89 percent of their at bats as a team from the 2020 season.
A YOUNG AND TALENTED PITCHING STAFF
Unlike their offensive comrades, the pitching staff for UT Tyler will return as a young and talented group that truly shined with a wealth of potential in the shortened 2020 season. Sophomore's
Payton Foster and
Sarah Gartman saw valuable innings in the circle last season as they combined to toss 75.2 innings for the year. Foster posted a record of 7-2 for the season and produced an ERA of 2.56.
A pair of veteran transfers in
Chelsea Smith and
Erin Hill will look to bolster the effort alongside Foster and Gartman in the circle for the Patriots in 2021.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
The University of Montevallo enters the series against UT Tyler with an overall record of 0-2 on the year after posting a 14-9 record in 2020. The Falcons went 8-4 in the Gulf South Conference in 2020 and notched wins against nationally-ranked University of Indianapolis (#12) and West Florida (#4) last season.
Montevallo was shutout by the University of North Georgia last weekend by 4-0 final tallies in both games. Sierra Underwood went 3-for-6 from the plate to lead the Falcons with a .500 average while Kaylee Hawkins and Mychael McMillan each started a game in the circle.
