2006 Softball Preview Part 8 - UIC Flames

Feb. 10, 2006

The 2005 season left the UIC Flames ready for more. After clinching its third regular-season Horizon League title in fours years, the UIC softball team has some unfinished business after falling in the Horizon League Tournament to eventual champions UW-Green Bay with a 40-27 record.

Ranked first in the 2006 preseason poll, the Flames are Horizon League Championship bound and looking for their ninth NCAA regional berth.

UIC returns seven starters, bringing back a majority of the returning firepower and introducing three stellar freshmen to the 2006 squad. Co-head coaches Tom Gray and Sarah O'Malley-Fisher will look to the five seniors to help replace All-American standout Cameron Astiazaran and First Team All-Horizon League honoree Sara Hernandez.

With five preseason Top 25 teams on UIC's schedule, the Flames prepare to continue their success on the diamond in several tournaments early this season.

Since the MCC became the Horizon League in 2002, UIC has owned three regular-season titles and two conference tournament titles.

In 2004, the Flames earned an NCAA Regional berth, its seventh since 1995. UIC went 3-1 before falling to Oregon State 6-5, ending its road to the Softball College World Series.

PITCHER
Senior Brittany McIntyre guides the pitching rotation this season and provides the backbone for a young pitching squad. The Second Team Horizon League honoree enters her fourth year on the mound for the Flames with a 2.85 ERA and a 73-54 record. The senior posted eight shutouts, 135 strikeouts and pitched 229 innings in 2005.

Making a name for herself last season, sophomore Mercedes Lovato shared the mound with McIntrye, posting a 17-11 record in 2005. In 24 games, Lovato had 62 strikeouts, two shutouts and only allowed five triples.

Two freshmen join the pitching staff, adding to UIC's depth on the mound. Sarah Clynes, a four-year letterwinner at St. Joseph's Academy in St. Louis, Mo., guided her team to a 14-8 record with a 0.33 ERA and a 12-5 pitching record in 2005. Clynes stepped up at the plate this fall, proving to be an offensive threat for the Flames in 2006.

Joining Clynes is California native Kelly Cross from Palm Desert High School. Cross comes to the Flames with numerous accolades and school strikeout records. The newcomer held DePaul scoreless for five and a half innings in the fall in a match-up versus UIC.

OUTFIELD
Although the Flames will miss All-American Cameron Astiazaran this season, the pool of outfielders is deep with returning senior starters Nicole Shepard, Michelle Miller and 2005 Horizon League All-Newcomer Team honoree Brittany Dixon.

With a position open after the graduation of Astiazaran, Shepard will take over at center field and Miller, Dixon and Becky Moran will all be vying for a spot in the outfield.

Shepard ranked second on the team with a .365 batting average and racked up 17 doubles in all 67 games for the Flames. Shepard tallied 41 runs, 76 hits and five homers for UIC in 2005.

Recording 41 hits last season, Miller posted a .255 batting average and defensively owned a .965 fielding average in left field for the Flames. The senior started in 64 of 65 games and contributed 24 runs.

Brittany Dixon paved the way to her success in 2005, grabbing all- newcomer honors and belting 23 RBIs for UIC. In the Flames 2005 campaign, Dixon played in 63 games, totaling 30 runs, ten doubles and 60 hits.

CATCHER
2004 Horizon League Newcomer of the Year Liz Jacoby is coming off an excellent sophomore season behind the plate, posting a .981 fielding percentage with 166 putouts. Jacoby batted .255 in 2005 with 40 hits, ten doubles, eight home runs and 30 RBI.

Getting time behind the plate last season, the Flames will also look to sophomore Nikki Rogers to provide depth in the catcher position.

UTILITY
Sophomores Mallory Studzinski and Nikki Rogers will share duties at the designated player position. Starting in 22 of 33 games, Rogers posted a .978 fielding percentage and tallied six RBI. Batting .255 last season, the sophomore totaled 14 runs and hits, as well as, two doubles for the Flames. Playing in 17 games last season, Studzinski recorded 4 runs and five hits in 24 at bats.

INFIELD
Despite the loss of First Team Horizon League third baseman Sara Hernandez, three starters in the infield return for the Flames, led by veteran shortstop Joyce Cathey.

After playing first base for the Flames last season, sophomores Lauren Brennan will cover third base for UIC after Hernandez's departure. Cathey's senior leadership rounds out the left side of the field, Nicole Robinson returns for the Flames a second base and senior Meghan Gallagher will challenge Robinson for playing time throughout the season.

Newcomer Melissa Marinacci will make an immediate impact at first base, following an impressive fall season offensively and defensively.

A three-time Horizon League honoree, Cathey batted a career-high .347 with 59 hits, ten doubles and 50 runs. The senior belted 12 home runs, 35 RBIs and posted a .935 fielding percentage at shortstop.

Brennan recorded 47 hits, 17 runs and 30 RBIs for UIC last season. Robinson posted a .968 fielding average with 30 RBIs, four homeruns, 53 hits and received Horizon League All-Newcomer accolades.

Marinacci, a Yorba Linda, California native, comes to Chicago from Esperanza High School where she helped guide the team to four consecutive League championships.

SCHEDULE
With five Preseason Top 25 teams on UIC's schedule, the Flames face tough contests in four tournaments before entering into Horizon League play on April 1.

The Las Vegas Classic marks the first stop for the Flames, where they will take on 14th ranked Washington on the second day of competition.

Following Vegas, UIC travels to Palm Springs California to take on 12th ranked Oregon State, Cal State Fullerton and other powerhouse programs.

After returning to the Midwest for match-ups with Iowa, Northern Illinois and Southern Illinois at the SIU Tournament, the Flames battle third-ranked Tennessee in one of two Tampa-area tournaments.

In April and May, UIC battles League opponents along with non-conference cross-town foes No. 15 Northwestern and No. 16 DePaul before concluding the schedule at the Horizon League Tournament May 11-13, 2006.

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Story provided by Beth Usewicz, UIC Asst. Sports Information Director.