The University of Houston-Victoria Jaguars baseball team with just six returning starters will open the 2012 season with a big test on Feb. 3-4 in Brownsville.

The Jaguars will meet the UT-Brownsville Scorpions in a 4 p.m. doubleheader on Friday and wrap up the series on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

UTB captured the series last season with a 5-3 mark, but the Jaguars still lead the overall series with a 17-13 record.

Five position players are back for the Jaguars this season as starters and include outfielders John Longoria and Tyler Steiner, catcher Brandon Bohanon and infielders Cory Hulsey and Ryan Suescun, while sophomore Cory Carter returns on the mound.

Longoria is a preseason NAIA All-American pick and was the Association of Independent Institutions Conference Player of the Year last year. He is one of four seniors on this year's squad that includes pitcher Zack Moya, who missed last season, and transfers Creighton Hoke (pitcher, University of Maryland) and Chad Kruse (infielder, Sam Houston State University).

The Jaguars begin their fifth season under coach Terry Puhl where they are 127-69 and have won two A.I.I. Conference championships.