CHICAGO – UIC softball begins the 2019 campaign this weekend in South Carolina at the Kickin' Chicken Classic. The Flames will see action against No. 8 Tennessee, Boston University and Rider University, in addition to host Coastal Carolina in the three-day tournament, which runs from Friday morning through Sunday afternoon inside St. John Stadium.

BUILDING OFF STORIED SUCCESS
The 2019 squad looks to continue UIC's tradition for excellence, following up a 2018 squad that posted the team's highest batting average since 2015 (.289), and ended the season ranked No. 53 in the nation. The 2018 Flames also matched a program-best 104 stolen bases and averaged 1.93 swipes per contest to finish at No. 19 in the nation.

In 2018, UIC finished number one in the Horizon League in batting average (.289), runs (246), hits (417), RBIs (217), walks (160), on base percentage (.364), steals (104) and fielding percentage (.968). The Flames were also one of the League's most dominant teams in the circle, posting the conference's lowest ERA (3.31), and keeping batters to a conference-low .262 batting average, while also allowing the fewest runs (197). UIC's 2018 staff also tallied the most strikeouts (252) and shutouts (10).

FLAMES SWEEP PRESEASON VOTE… AGAIN
For the second-straight year, UIC took all nine first-place votes in the Horizon League Preseason Poll, finishing with a total of 81 points. After winning their second-straight conference tournament title and fourth-straight regular season title in 2018, the Flames are predicted to repeat as the League's top performers. UIC made its second-straight NCAA Regional appearance in 2018 after finishing with 30-plus wins for the third-straight year with a 33-21 overall record and 19-4 mark in conference play. 

CURYLO'S CORNER
Head coach Lynn Curylo is back for her third season at the helm after earning her second-straight Horizon League Coach of the Year honor in 2018. Curylo eclipsed the 200-win mark last season, and boasts 219 wins all-time, 72 of which have come in just two seasons with the Flames. Since returning to her alma mater prior to the 2017 season, Curylo has continued to build and grow UIC's success, leading the team to its second-straight Horizon League title and NCAA tournament berth.

GUESS WHO'S BACK
The Flames return 328 of their 417 hits from 2018, including 2018 Horizon League Player of the Year Lexi Watts and fellow All-League First Team members Kayla Wedl and Skylee James. Horizon League All-Freshman Team honorees Alyssa Griman, Marley Hanlon and Maddie Spinks are also back in the lineup for the Flames.

UIC returns its entire pitching staff from 2018, which finished the season with a League-low 3.31 ERA. Junior Allie Trudeau paced UIC in the circle in 2018 with the conference's third-lowest ERA at 2.85, followed closely by sophomore Marley Hanlon's fourth-lowest 2.86 ERA. Redshirt-senior Karissa Frazier held batters to a .246 average last year, while Trudeau kept batters to a .250 clip, good for fourth and fifth lowest, respectively.

SIZING UP THE COMPETITION
UIC will be tested right out of the gate, facing No. 8 Tennessee on both Friday and Saturday. The Lady Vols ended the 2018 season at No. 10 in the both the USA Today/NFCA Coaches' Poll and the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. Tennessee compiled a 48-14 record last year that culminated in the team's sixth Super Regional appearance in the last seven seasons. Senior All-American Aubrey Leach is back after setting the Tennessee single-season record last year with 80 runs scored, while also leading the SEC with a .441 average at the plate. Caylan Arnold returns to the circle for the Lady Vols after capturing 26 wins in 217.0 innings of work as Tennessee's ace in 2018. Arnold was a three-time SEC Pitcher of the Week last year, striking out 227 batters and maintaining a 2.19 ERA. 

Boston University captured its third Patriot League title in 2018 after posting a 39-20 record overall and a 15-3 mark in conference action. The Terriers season ended at the Norman Regional after taking losses to No. 4 Oklahoma (9-0) and Missouri (10-8). Sophomore pitcher Ali DuBois and senior catcher Alex Heinen were both named to the NFCA All-Northeast Region First Team last year, and will be back in action for the Terriers.

Rider went 17-33 last year and turned out an 8-12 record in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Seniors Maddy Chain and Amanda Jordan as well as junior Elyse Cuttic look to lead the Broncs as team captains, after emerging as leaders last year. Cuttic anchored the Rider pitching staff in 2018 with a 3.08 ERA in 141.0 innings of work, allowing 99 runs (62 earned) off 171 hits, while also striking out 53.

Host Coastal Carolina finished 26-28 last year, capturing a 9-17 record in Sun Belt action. Sophomore Courtney Dean was named Preseason All-Conference after leading all freshmen in 2018 with a .345 batting average, 15 home runs, and 39 runs batted in. Ashley Guillette returns after leading the Chanticleers in the circle last season with a 3.68 ERA off 169.1 innings pitched. Guillette took home 14 wins while striking out 127 in 2018.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Kickin' Chicken Classic is the first of five tournaments for the Flames, as they will also participate in the Hillenbrand Invitational (Feb. 15-17), The San Diego Classic (March 1-3), the Coach B Classic (March 8-9) and the Belmont Invitational (March 15-17).