• Complete Stopper of the Year Release
A pair of OVC relief pitchers are among 61 players nationally named to the midseason watch list for the 21st annual Stopper of the Year Award by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).
The selections were Southeast Missouri senior
Jackson Kranawetter and SIUE redshirt sophomore
Easton Harris.
Kranawetter has made 13 appearances this season, including one start, and has thrown 24.0 innings having made an Ohio Valley Conference-best eight saves so far in 2026. Those eight saves ranks Kranawetter 12th in the country and pushed his career save total to 16. He needs just two more saves this season to become the program's all-time saves leader, surpassing former Redhawk Kyle Miller (2021-24) who finished with 17. This year, Kranawetter has punched out 31 opposing hitters, allowed just 11 runs on 29 hits, and has only walked just three opponents.
Harris has racked up eight saves this season which is tied for the lead in the Ohio Valley Conference and ranks 13th in the NCAA. His 15 appearances are tied for second on the team. Harris has 15 strikeouts in 16.2 innings of work this year. Harris' eight saves are already tied for third most in a single season at SIUE and the second most in SIUE's Division I era.
The NCBWA will announce the finalists on Wednesday, June 3, with the winner being named on Friday, June 12, at the 2026 Men's College World Series.