CHICAGO – The UIC softball team will get its 2017 season underway as it co-hosts the fourth-annual Total Control Sports Invitational alongside Loyola at the Dome in Rosemont, Ill. The Flames are set to face IUPUI, Miami (Oh), Fort Wayne, Western Illinois and Butler during the three-day tournament which kicks off Friday at 11:30 a.m. CT against the Jaguars.
 
Under the direction of first-year head coach and UIC alum Lynn Curylo, the Flames will be in search of another conference title as they have won three of the last four regular season crowns (2013, 2015, 2016). In the Horizon League Preseason Coaches' Poll, UIC was selected to finish at the top of the league again after earning seven of the nine first-place votes.
 
The Flames are coming off a 2016 season that produced a 33-18 record and 18-5 mark in conference play, setting a record for most conference wins in program history. The team owned a .286 batting average with 398 hits, including 87 extra-base efforts, and held opponents to a .222 average as they put together a 2.26 ERA, ranking 23rd in the nation. Into conference play, they turned out a .318 average with 199 hits and had league-best marks of a .211 opponent batting average and 2.21 ERA.
 
Several Flames were recognized for their contributions by the Horizon League as Elaine Heflin repeated as Pitcher of the Year and Lexi Watts was named Freshman of the Year. The pair also placed on the All-League First Team, while Skylee James and Tiana Mack-Miller collected Second Team nods. Additionally, Heflin earned a spot on the NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team.
 
UIC will look toward its 14 returners, featuring a strong core of eight upperclassmen, to lead the team in the direction of another title. The top returner on offense is Watts, who went .362 with 63 hits and led the team with a .377 average in conference, and also boasted 37 stolen bases. Heflin heads the pitching staff after posting a 19-9 record and 1.43 earned-run average with six shutouts, 170 strikeouts and a .198 opponent batting average.
 
The Flames will also be joined by their freshmen class of Alyssa Griman (C/1B), Ria Smith (OF/1B), Jennah Speth (P/OF), Allie Trudeau (P) and Kayla Wedl (INF).
 
This weekend's tournament is the first of six for UIC this season as it will compete in the Cougar Classic (Charleston, S.C.), Santa Clara Invitational (Santa Clara, Calif.), Coach B Classic (Carbondale, Ill.), OU Tournament (Norman, Okla.) and Hoosier Classic (Bloomington, Ind.) prior to beginning Horizon League play on March 24 at home against Cleveland State.