ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Valley Conference named to UIC baseball outfielders to its All-Tournament team, as announced by the conference this weekend. Senior Luke Nowak and sophomore Lucas Smith received the accolades from the conference for their play on the diamond this past week at the 2025 MVC Baseball Championship.
 
The pair were two of 12 student-athletes to be named to the All-Tournament team. UIC was one of four schools to receive multiple selections along with Belmont, Missouri State and Murray State.
 
Over four games at the MVC Championship, Nowak went 9-19 (.473), with nine runs scored, four RBI, two walks, two stolen bases and four doubles. The senior also had multiple key catches in the outfield for the Flames throughout the tournament. In UIC's 19-17 victory over No. 3 Southern Illinois Wednesday, Nowak went 5-6 with five runs, three RBI, one walk and two stolen bases. Last week the MVC named Nowak its Newcomer of the Year and to its All-Conference First Team. He is the third UIC baseball player in a row to be named Newcomer of the Year.
 
Smith finished his 2025 campaign on a heater for the Flames, batting 9-19 (.473) at the plate, with four RBI, four runs, and a triple. His top day at the plate came during UIC's 11-5 victory over No. 2 Missouri State where he went 3-6 with an RBI, a run and a triple.
 
The Flames finished the 2025 season 22-33 with an 16-11 record in conference play. UIC advanced to the final weekend of the MVC tournament and was one of the final three programs left standing in competition. UIC's fourth place finish in the regular season was its best since joining the MVC. 
 
The full list of MVC All-Tournament selections is below.
 
Noah Smith, Illinois State
Mike Sprockett, Belmont
Landon Godsey, Belmont
Lucas Smith, UIC
Luke Nowak, UIC
Caden Bogenpohl, Missouri State
Jason Schaaf, Missouri State
Curry Sutherland, Missouri State
Dan Tauken, Murray State
Jonathan Hogart, Murray State
Jacob Hustedde, Murray State
Dustin Mercer, Murray State – Tournament MVP