TYLER -- Head coach Mike Reed and the UT Tyler softball team have announced the schedule for the upcoming 2013 softball season.  Last year, the Patriots finished 39-9 and were the runners-up in the 2012 NCAA West Regional.

This year, UT Tyler opens the season on-the-road against last year's American Southwest Conference west division champion Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday, February 16 in a double header beginning at 1 p.m.

Trinity (Tx) will come to Tyler a week later for the 2013 home-opener beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday, February 24.  Last season, the Tigers ended their season with a loss in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Confernce championship game.

UT Tyler will then head to Columbus, Georgia, March 8-10 for the Nastional Fastpitch Coaches Association Lead Off Classic, featuring some of the best DIII softball teams in the country.

The Patriots will take-on Alma College on Friday, March 8 at 10 a.m. eastern time.  Last season, the Scots went 31-14 and hosted a NCAA regional.  For 17 of the past 19 years, Alma has reached the regional round of the NCAA tournament.

At 12:30 p.m. eastern on Friday, the Patriots will face national-power Washington University (MO) in the second-game of pool play.  In 2012, the Bears went 28-12 and have made the NCAA regionals six of the last seven years, including a national runner-up finish in 2007.

In the final game of pool-play, UT Tyler will face Husson University who went 33-13 last season, winning a conference championship.  For the last four seasons, Husson has made the NCAA regionals.

Also taking part in the Leadoff Classic will be defending national champion Pacific Lutheran, the 2011 national champion Linfield and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps from California.

UT Tyler will then open ASC-play on Wednesday, March 13 against rival Mississippi College at 2 p.m. in Tyler.

The Patriots will take a break from conference-play on Wednesday March 27, while they take-on defending national champion Pacific Lutheran at  4 p.m. in Tyler.

The final ASC game of the regular season will come Saturday, April 20 against Ozarks at 1 p.m. in Tyler, with the ASC Championship tournament scheduled for April 25-27 in Farmer's Branch.

For more information on the UT Tyler softball team and schedule, please visit www.uttylerpatriots.com