CONWAY, S.C. – Coastal Carolina softball's Kickin' Chicken Classic for opening weekend, Feb. 9-12, has been changed to a series with UMass Lowell due to impending inclement weather throughout the Conway/Myrtle Beach area all weekend.

The Chanticleers will host UMass Lowell for a doubleheader on Thursday, Feb. 9, at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET, as originally scheduled.

The remaining schedule for the weekend between Coastal Carolina and UMass Lowell will be determined on Thursday. The other three teams in Penn State, South Dakota, and Towson will not be traveling to the Conway/Myrtle Beach area to participate in the tournament.

Tournament passes that were purchased for the Kickin' Chicken Classic will be refunded.

Single-day passes will be available this weekend and can be purchased at St. John Stadium each day.

For ticket questions, contact the Chanticleer Athletics Ticket Office at (843) 347-TIXX.
 
Preseason Poll and All-Sun Belt Selection

• Coastal Carolina was picked to finish 10th in the 2023 Sun Belt Conference coaches' preseason poll after receiving 47 votes. The three-time defending Sun-Belt Champions Louisiana was picked to finish first by the league's head coaches.
• Senior Iyanla De Jesus was one of the 15 players selected to the preseason All-Sun Belt Team. De Jesus ended the 2022 season with a .340 batting average, recording 10 doubles, nine home runs, and 33 RBI.

Home Sweet Home

• Coastal will be regulars at its home field during the beginning of the season. The Chanticleers will play at home throughout the whole of February at St. John Stadium.
• CCU's five away games will take place in Madeira Beach, Florida, where the Chants will be competing in the Spring Games (March 3-5).

Scouting UMass Lowell

• Coastal have only had one previous encounter against the UMass Lowell River Hawks back in 2017 in which the Chants took a 5-3 victory.
• The River Hawks finished the 2022 season with a 28-20 overall record going 10-7 in conference play.
• UMass Lowell has lost six players, including starting pitcher Chelsea Runyon and leading scorer Olivia Labbe from last year's team.

 
For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSoftball (Twitter), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.