CHICAGO – The UIC softball team (38-20) will make its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in six seasons this weekend when it begins play at the Eugene Regional. The double-elimination regional is slated to run Friday-Sunday, May 19-21, at Jane Sanders Stadium in Eugene, Ore.
 
First up for the Flames is a matchup against host No. 3-ranked Oregon at 10:30 p.m. CT Friday, with the game set to be broadcasted on ESPNU. The teams will then move on to play Saturday against either Wisconsin (33-15) or Missouri (29-26), with the winner playing at 4 p.m. and the loser at 6:30 p.m.
 
BACK IN THE BIG DANCE
The Flames return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011 and 10th time in program history. UIC owns an all-time record of 12-19 in the tournament as it made a run in the regionals for five-straight seasons from 1998-2002. The team's most storied success came with its lone appearance in the College World Series in 1994, when head coach Lynn Curylo was on the team as a freshman.
 
The Eugene Regional is the furthest the Flames have ever traveled in the postseason as their regional selection has primarily stayed in the Midwest.
 
RETURN OF THE CHAMPIONS
For the ninth time in program history, UIC was crowned the Horizon League Tournament Champion on May 13. All it took was three wins and they did just that with an opening win over Wright State, 2-0, and then two 6-3 victories over Youngstown State. The Flames' perfect 3-0 tournament record marked the first time since 2004 it went without a loss.
 
UIC turned out 30 hits across the three games with Tiana Mack-Miller hitting a team-best .625 (5-for-8) with one double, one home run and four RBI, earning her the title of Tournament MVP; and Lexi Watts adding a team-high six hits and four runs scored. The pitching staff held opponents to 18 hits, a .222 average, as Elaine Heflin, Karissa Frazier and Allie Trudeau each earned a win with Heflin adding a save.
 
OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT
The Flames have picked up their bats as of late to turn out a .351 average over their last six games, highlighted by 12 of the team's 60 hits coming from Watts. On the year, the team is hitting .285 with Watts holding the top spot of .399 off 75 hits, which ranks 16th in the nation and is the most for a UIC player since 2005. Jennah Speth (.320), Kayla Wedl (.308) and Savannah Soppet (.302) are all above the .300 mark, with Speth and Wedl combining for 11 home runs and 61 RBI.
 
CONTROL IN THE CIRCLE
Not only did UIC possess the best pitching staff in the Horizon League all season, but also had one of the best in the nation. With its earned-run average never going above 3.00, its current mark of 2.05 ranks 27th nationally and is the best ERA for the Flames since the 2001 team's 1.83. Their .214 opposing batting average is the lowest mark for the program since the 2000 team held foes to a .205 average, while their 12 saves set a program record for most in a single season.
 
It has been a collective effort from the likes of Frazier (1.53 ERA), Trudeau (2.00 ERA) and Heflin (2.03 ERA). In splitting all but two starts, they have each picked up at least 10 wins and three saves, and have aided in the team's 13 shutouts. Batters have been limited with Trudeau (.191) and Heflin (.193) turning out the best opposing averages. Having never allowed more than six hits in an appearance, Trudeau is 36th nationally in hits allowed per seven innings with a 4.71 average. Heflin has collected nearly half of the team's 306 strikeouts with 151 to top the Horizon League and rank 71st.
 
THE OUTLOOK
UIC is seeking its first regional win since 2004 as it will be faced with its toughest competition of the season. Oregon is the highest seed the Flames will have faced after previously meeting with a top-10 opponent in Oklahoma. If matched, Wisconsin will be the fourth Big Ten foe for UIC while Missouri will be the second SEC opponent after taking on a ranked Kentucky team.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
UIC owns a 3-2 record in the all-time series with Oregon after last facing one another in a nine-inning affair back in 2010 with the Ducks claiming a 6-5 win. The Flames last met with Wisconsin in 2013 and dropped a 2-1 decision in eight innings to move its all-time record to 4-9. The last matchup against Mizzou came in 2002 with UIC falling 11-8 for a 2-4 all-time record.