Like pieces of a puzzle, the UT Arlington pitching staff fits together with four different pitchers offering a diverse skill ability to complete the overall picture.

The group features a variety of styles inside the circle and brings different levels of experience to help the Mavericks reach an overall goal of competing for a Sun Belt Conference crown in the second season in the conference.

Redshirt sophomore Brittany May is the lone returner to the group after pitching in 17 games last season, earning five starts. Sophomore Sam Montes, a transfer from Baylor, as well as freshmen Kayla Donaldson and Taylor Simmonds, joins May.

"We are going to try to complement them and use each of their strengths to our advantage and work hitters to our advantage," UT Arlington pitching coach Camden Decker said. "Because they are young, we are not going to have too many expectations but just want to come out and throw strikes, limit the walks, let our fielders work for us and pitch to contact."

Decker, in his first season with UTA, said that the group has worked well in practice and that fall practice was very successful for seeing what they have to offer. Decker added that seeing each of the pitchers in game situations will help tell the coaching staff who can stand out.

"So far I know what they have physically and what they throw, so now it is just about facing outside competition," Decker said. "I have to see what is going on between the ears and see what is going on and if they can handle it. Pitching and throwing are two different things, we know that they can throw so now we have to see if they can pitch."

Montes brings high expectations to the squad after transferring from Baylor. Montes was a part of the Bears' run into the semifinals of the NCAA Women's College World Series last season and said that experience has only raised her expectations of what she wants this team to accomplish.

"I saw how the girls were and how they played and what pitches they threw," Montes said. "I learned a lot down there and I think it is a confidence thing. You learn to relax. As a freshman you are so stressed out with school and practice and being there, I have seen it and I know what I need to do."

Montes and May both echoed that they have relayed their experience with what it is like pitching at the collegiate level and what it takes to be successful.

May, from Arlington, believes that her experience with pitching in the conference last season has helped her understand how she needs to take each hitter differently as she selects how she wants to pitch to them.

"Every time I pitch I know that maybe that was a good pitch for this person but maybe not for another," May said. "It is tough to tell (the other pitchers) how good the hitters are in our conference. I tell them that they just have to start every day fresh."

Starting fresh within UTA's group of pitchers, the group of freshman is set to begin their collegiate careers with an anticipated busy weekend of opening play for the group on Feb. 6.

Donaldson and Simmonds bring a wealth of experience at the high school level with accolades that show they have what it takes to compete.

Donaldson was the Wendy's Heisman Award winner at the high school level as well as a member of the Texas State Sports Writer Association All-State team. Simmonds, sharing similar accomplishments on the All-Centex team, was the defensive MVP of Round Rock High School as well as the newcomer of the year in 2011.

Earning the accomplishment of having the most wins in a season for Lorena High School, Donaldson admitted that she was nervous heading into her freshman season, but said that she is excited to see what she has to offer to the team.

"I just want to be successful," Donaldson said. "I am a bit nervous because it is my first year but I am excited to see what I can do. We had a good fall and we are just working on staying where we are at."

Between the four pitchers, each put on the table the differences that they had to offer as they are called upon. The group said that they had different pitches, different locations and different styles that will help keep hitters off balance as they see a variety of looks inside the batter's box.

"Everyone is a different part of the whole box," Simmonds said. "The other three complete the rest of the puzzle and that is why I think we will work really well together."

The pitching staff, and the Mavericks, get their first shot against competition on Feb. 6 in the Tangi Tourism Lion Classic in Hammond, La. against Alcorn State. UTA returns home to open the reconstructed Allan Saxe Field on Feb. 12 to begin the Maverick Invitation.