TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – As part of its end-of-season banquet Monday night, the Missouri Valley Conference released its 2023 All-Conference Teams, as well as the specialty awards for the regular season. UIC third baseman Charlie Szykowny was named as the conference's Newcomer of the Year, the first Flame in any sport to earn the award from the Missouri Valley. Szykowny was also named to the All-Conference First Team as a third baseman.

Szykowny, a transfer from Wisconsin-Stout, made an immediate impact offensively for the Flames this season. The graduate transfer third baseman hit .347 for the season and ranked among the top five in the MVC with 55 RBI and 16 home runs. He led the team in batting average, runs scored, hits, triples, home runs, RBI and slugging percentage in his first season in Chicago.

The Flames are set to open their first-ever Missouri Valley Conference Championship, beginning Tuesday afternoon in Terre Haute, Ind. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. CT, and the game, along with every game in the Championship, can be seen live on ESPN+.