Hawkins helps SIUE reach NCBA World Series
Vandalia graduate Kyle Hawkins pitched a complete game in the quarterfinals of the District VI Tournament to help Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville’s club baseball team reach the World Series.
The No. 2 Cougars beat third-seeded Ohio State, 2-1, in that game – with Hawkins striking out four and allowing no earned runs – and went on to beat No. 1 Southeast Missouri St., 3-0, in the semifinals and Ohio State in Columbus in the championship game of the double-elimination tournament.
The title game went nine innings, and with the 7-6 win, SIUE advanced to the National Club Baseball Association Division II World Series in Paducah, Ky., from May 17-21.
There, the Cougars (16-3) will be the No. 4 seed and will take on No. 5 Maryland at 10 a.m. on May 17 in the first game of the World Series tournament.
The winner faces either No. 1 Kennesaw State or No. 8 Wyoming at 7:30 p.m. on May 18.
Other teams in the World Series are No. 2 Penn State, No. 3 Northeastern, No. 6 Stephen F. Austin and No. 7 Wisconsin.
Vandalia graduate Kyle Hawkins (back row at right) is shown with his Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville teammates after reaching the National Club Baseball Association World Series.
