A Season of Records
Junior Ryan Niedzwiedz was named co-Player of the Year in the Ohio Valley Conference, sharing the honor with a fellow standout.
The award caps a breakout year in which Niedzwiedz smashed the program’s single-season home-run record with 27, drove in 67 runs, and posted a .352 batting average that places him eighth in the nation.
His on-base prowess translates to a 1.219 OPS and a .792 slugging percentage, while he also scored 59 runs and collected 76 hits.
Coach of the Year and a Historic Championship
Head coach Sean Lyons was selected Coach of the Year after guiding the Cougars to their first Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship.
Under Lyons’ direction, SIUE posted 32 overall wins, the most for the program since the transition to Division I in 2008, and secured the top seed heading into the tournament.
The Cougars will open OVC Tournament play on Thursday at 1 p.m. at MTN Dew Park in Marion, Illinois, where they will face tough competition.
Seven SIUE players earned All-OVC honors, matching a program high. Among them, Chase Bloomer repeated as a first-team selection, while Tim Teixeira, Easton Harris, Joshua Heyder, Spencer Stearns and Coooper Eggert each received recognition for their performances.
The team’s success reflects a collective effort, with each honoree contributing to a season that has put SIUE baseball back in the national conversation.