April 12th Recap-SIUE baseball team took two of three from Southern Indiana
The SIUE baseball team took two of three from Southern Indiana, highlighted by a 9–7 win in game two. Joshua Heyder led the way with three hits and two RBIs, while Sean Kang added multiple runs and reached base consistently. In the 7–6 loss in game three, Kang and Mack Mitchell each had two hits, and Jase Phillips struck out seven over six innings. The difference came on a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh, with SIUE leaving the tying run on base in the ninth. They followed that up with a dominant 17–9 win over Indiana State, exploding offensively with a huge run output. In their next series against Little Rock, SIUE dropped the opener 3–0 but bounced back with 6–2 and 3–2 wins to take the series, showing resilience and strong pitching in the final two games.
The SIUE softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to Southeast Missouri State, 9–1 and 7–4, struggling to contain early scoring and generate timely offense. They responded in the finale with a 4–0 shutout, backed by strong pitching and a cleaner defensive effort, while the offense did just enough with timely hits to secure the win. They then fell 8–2 on the road against Missouri State, before bouncing back with a strong showing against Lindenwood, winning 8–4 and 5–4 in a doubleheader behind solid offensive production. However, they couldn’t complete the sweep, dropping the final game of the series 3–0.
Congratulations to Michigan! They are your 2026 NCAA men’s basketball national champions, winning their first title since 1989. The Final Four saw UConn defeat Illinois 71–62, while Michigan dominated Arizona 91–73. Aday Mara led the way with 26 points and nine rebounds in the semifinal, while Elliot Cadeau added 13 points and 10 assists. In the championship game, Michigan topped UConn 69–63, with Cadeau scoring 19 points and delivering key late-game baskets. For UConn, Alex Karaban recorded 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Tarris Reed Jr. added a double-double effort. Michigan’s balance and late-game execution proved to be the difference. A huge shoutout as well to Illinois on an incredible season, reaching their first Final Four since 2005. It didn’t end the way I would have wanted it to end, but congratulations to head coach Brad Underwood and the entire team on a fantastic run.
Congratulations to UCLA! They are your 2026 NCAA women’s basketball national champions, capturing their first title in program history. The Final Four featured incredible matchups, with South Carolina defeating UConn 62–48 to end a 54-game winning streak, powered by Ta’Niya Latson’s 16 points and 11 rebounds. UCLA advanced with a 51–44 win over Texas, led by Lauren Betts and a strong defensive effort. In the championship, UCLA dominated South Carolina 79–51, with Betts earning Most Outstanding Player honors after a double-double performance and commanding presence on both ends. UCLA’s depth, defense, and execution carried them to a historic title.
The NCAA Frozen Four delivered thrilling matchups as well. Wisconsin edged North Dakota 2–1, while Denver defeated Michigan 4–3 in overtime in a dramatic semifinal. In the championship game, Denver continued their strong run, defeating Wisconsin 2–1 to capture the national title, capping off an impressive tournament with clutch performances in the biggest moments.
