No. 2 SIUE Cougars (26-26, 18-8) at 
OVC Championship
May 22-24
MTN Dew Park
Marion, Illinois

SIUE PROBABLE STARTERS
RHP Tim Teixeira (3-4, 5.98)
RHP Spencer Stearns (3-4, 5.18)

TOURNEY TIME: The Cougars return to the OVC Tournament for the fourth straight year and sixth year overall. The No. 2 seed is SIUE's highest ever.

CONFERENCE CALL: SIUE completed its 14th Ohio Valley Conference season in 2025. At 18-8, the Cougars finished in second place. The 18 OVC wins are the most under Sean Lyons and the most for SIUE since 2015, which also marked the last time SIUE had a winning season in league play. The Cougars are 159-212 all-time in OVC play. 

ROAD WARRIORS: SIUE's 14 road wins this year are the most since 2000 when the Cougars won 16.

SERIES STUFF: The Cougars are a combined 13-7 against the rest of the teams in the field. SIUE won or swept series from five of the teams, only losing series to SEMO (1-2) and Eastern Illinois (1-2).

EDWARDSVILLE SLUGGERS: The Cougars lead the OVC in home runs with 77 which ranks 45th nationally. SIUE's 1.48 home runs per game lead the league and are 44th in the NCAA. The 2025 teams ranks second in homers in a season at SIUE. The school record is 99 home runs in 2022.

STRIKE FORCE: SIUE's 429 strikeouts rank second in the league. The Cougars lead the league at 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings, which ranks 95th nationally. with six strikeouts, SIUE will break its Division I single season mark of 434 strikeouts (set in 2023).

SMOOTH CRIMINALS: SIUE's 81 stolen bases rank second in the OVC and are second most in a season at the Division I level. The record is 83 stolen bases in 2024.

MACK ATTACK: Mack Mitchell is tied for the league lead with 19 total home runs and leads the league at .38 home runs per game. His 19 homers are tied for second on the single season list at SIUE.

LEADERS AT THE PLATE: Daniel Gierer is the third in the OVC in batting average at .352. Mitchell is fifth in in the league in total RBIs at 50 and is second in the OVC in slugging (.665) and third in OPS (1.092). Chase Bloomer is fourth in the league in home runs with 14 and tied for seventh in RBIs with 47. 

LEADERS ON THE MOUND: Spencer Stearns is second in strikeouts per nine innings at 9.58. Tim Teixeira is fourth at 8.63. Liam McKillop ranks fourth in the league with 23 appearances. Tyler Davis is third with seven saves. 

WALLACE WATCH LIST: Bloomer is included on the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List recognizing the top 100 shortstops in college baseball.

GOOD HANDS: SIUE's .973 fielding percentage is the best in the league and 91st in the NCAA. The Cougars have committed the fewest errors in the league with 51.