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BROWNSVILLE, TX -- As Action 4 Sports reported on Monday, UT-Brownsville is cutting it's baseball program after the 2012 season. In it's place, the Scorpions athletic department is beginning men's and women's cross country programs to begin competition in the fall of 2013.

There will be no cuts of any of the other three sports at UTB, men's and women's soccer, men's and women"s golf, and women's volleyball, at least for now.

The following is the statement from UT-Brownsville:

The new year will usher in changes to the athletics program at The University of Texas at Brownsville.

After several months of study by the Athletics Task Force, recommendations were made to remain in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, to add men's and women's cross country and to end the baseball program following the spring 2012 season. The task force was made up of representatives from the faculty, staff, administration and students, the athletic director and coaches and members of the community.

The addition of men's and women's cross country to the UTB athletic program roster that already includes national championship women's volleyball, and highly ranked men's and women's soccer and men's and women's golf, will strengthen and diversify the program giving men and women students additional opportunities to participate in competitive athletics while at UTB.

"The decision means that an active athletic program for men and women students is destined to play a very important role in UTB's future. We have seen how a strong athletic program can strengthen and add great value to student life on campus," said Dr. Juliet V. Garcia, President. "Students want more and this is the way to provide added value within the fiscal constraints of separation. The task force did an impressive job of weighing all of our options, deliberating and then making well-reasoned recommendations."

UTB has been a member of the NAIA and a member of the Red River Athletic Conference for the past five years. The conference requires a university to support six sports to remain active in the conference.

The department of Athletics receives all of its funding through student fees. Due to the separation with Texas Southmost College, the department is facing up to a 50 percent loss in funding.

"The task force understands that while sacrifices must be made in the process of change, we also envision great potential for growth and progress," said Dr. Steve Rosales, faculty member who served on the task force. "The sports programs we recommended were considered for their history of success and those most fiscally appropriate, given the budget shortfall as a result of the separation from TSC."

The baseball coaching staff was notified of the decision on Monday and the players were informed throughout the day to allow them to take advantage of opportunities for recruitment.