Jan. 8, 2014

CHICAGO - With the start of the 2014 season just under a month away, UIC head softball coach Michelle Venturella announced the addition of right-handed pitcher Alice Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick, a sophomore transfer from Michigan, will compete alongside the Flames during their upcoming season.

"We are so excited to have Alice join our team," Venturella said. "I recruited Alice, so I had the opportunity to get to know her and her family. She will give us depth on the mound, which will be great. She's a great person and fits in with the values of our program, and it will be great to see her in a Flames uniform."

During her freshman campaign with the Wolverines, Fitzpatrick made eight appearances inside the circle and started her first collegiate game against LIU Brooklyn on Feb. 16, when she pitched two innings and recorded one strikeout. While on the mound for Michigan, Fitzpatrick struck out 10 batters in 13.1 innings pitched and posted a 6.83 ERA.

The Kansasville, Wis., native graduated from Union Grove High School, where she was a four-year varsity letterwinner. An all-county player of the year, two-time all-area player of the year, and four-time all-county, all-area and all-conference, Fitzpatrick led Union Grove to four straight regional championships and two state championship appearances. She pitched nine shutouts and two perfect games during her career while collecting a 0.88 ERA and a 45-6 record. Fitzpatrick was additionally impressive at the plate, recording a .494 batting average, .690 slugging percentage, and 132 RBI.

Fitzpatrick will join the Flames to kick off the 2014 season on Feb. 7, when they take on Illinois at 2 p.m. CT and Eastern Illinois at 4:30 p.m. on the first day of the Rosemont Rumble in Rosemont, Ill.