TAMIU finished 2013 after qualifying for the conference tournament for a school record fifth straight year, where they were eliminated by St. Edward's in the semifinals.

The Dustdevils will open with their first 19 games away from home.

Playing in a string of four consecutive tournaments, the Dustdevils will open their home schedule the same day they open their Heartland Conference play – in a doubleheader against Oklahoma Panhandle State on Feb. 28.

The regular season launches on Feb. 1 with five games at the St. Mary's NCAA Division II Classic in San Antonio. Although the Classic is hosted by Heartland rival St. Mary's, TAMIU and the Rattlers will not play. Instead, TAMIU will play East Central (10 a.m.) and Angelo State (12 p.m.) on Feb. 1, Texas Women's (4 p.m.) on Feb. 2, and Southeastern Oklahoma State (10 a.m.) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (12 p.m.) on Feb. 3.

"I am very excited with our roster of seven seniors and seven freshmen and the few in-between," TAMIU coach Scott Libby said. "I feel like we really grew together very well in the fall season both on the ball field and off the diamond.

"The upperclassmen did a fantastic job of accepting the newcomers and the freshmen did a wonderful job following their lead and making the necessary transition from high school to college. We plan to start at least three freshmen (at catcher, shortstop and centerfield), so again they'll need to mature fast and our returners will need to show off their experience."

The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked No. 15 and were ranked No. 2 in the Heartland's preseason poll.

St. Mary's was voted into first place, earning 10 of 13 first-place votes.

Rounding out the poll, the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, Newman and Oklahoma Panhandle State came in ranked as Nos. 4-6.