Revamped UTA softball team looks to take bite out of Sun Belt

UT Arlington doesn’t like being called an underdog.

Despite a disappointing finish last season, Shelbi Sikes prefers to be considered something else entirely.

“I’d say we’re ankle biters,” she said. “We have a lot more fight and love of the game.”

After losing their last seven games last season to close on a sour note, Sikes and her two other teammates available during media day were unanimous in saying this year’s softball team won’t let that happen again.

It’s a confidence fueled by an influx of freshmen that coach Kristie Fox believes will help transform the Mavericks from a power-hitting team into a speed-based team. While last year’s team set school records on offense, Fox admitted she’s overhauling her team to exploit a market inefficiency.

“This game is all about hitting right now. It’s not about that short game, so we need to find middle ground to use our speed and find those power numbers and doubles as well,” Fox said.

With just 2  1/2 weeks before the first pitch, the lineup remains in flux. But whatever happens on the offensive end, they’re focused on shoring up their ability to make plays in the field.

Since Allan Saxe Field is a smaller field, the Mavericks will rely on fast outfielders to run down pop flies. And because starter Sam Montes is a pitch-to-contact pitcher, she loves having that speed behind her.

“If I strike somebody out, it’s your fault that you struck out,” Montes joked. “Having somebody in the outfield to fly around and get those little pop flies is so nice.”

Mya Anderson, who hit 13 home runs last season, returns in the outfield along with Britnea Barilli. Two freshmen are battling it out to start in center field, but Fox said whoever wins the job will bring more range than they’ve had in recent years.

Position battles are being waged across the board, but they won’t have to worry about second base, where Sandra Mendoza looks to follow up a tremendous freshman season after she hit .348 and swiped eight bases.

Fox hopes freshman Laura Curry settles in at shortstop, and as a former shortstop herself, she sees big things in Curry’s future.

“She is one of the best that I’ve seen and I was a shortstop. My sister [All-American Kellie Fox] was a shortstop. For me to say that speaks a lot to her ability,” Fox said.

Since they haven’t recorded a winning season since 2011, the Mavericks have an opportunity to surprise the powerful Sun Belt Conference without the pressure of being a favorite.

Just don’t call them an underdog.

This story was originally published January 26, 2016 at 8:54 PM with the headline "Revamped UTA softball team looks to take bite out of Sun Belt."