West Virginia’s baseball team has been dominating in Division I, boasting the best overall and road records in the league. Even with a first-year coach and a star pitcher who transferred from a Division II school in Illinois, the Mountaineers have been on a winning streak, with a remarkable 30-4 record and a .882 winning percentage, surpassing Arkansas. They recently clinched an impressive three-game sweep at Houston, maintaining an outstanding 18-1 record on the road.
Coach Steve Sabins attributes their success to the team’s grit and determination in the face of adversity, emphasizing the importance of showing up and battling through challenges without making excuses. The offense has significantly improved from the previous season, with a .300 hitter in every lineup spot, led by Skylar King’s impressive .377 batting average. The team has also excelled in stealing bases, with 86 stolen bases and six players with at least eight each.
Pitching has been a pleasant surprise for the Mountaineers, with all three weekend starters and a reliever, as well as shortstop JJ Wetherholt, being selected in the Major League Baseball amateur draft. Despite losing key pitchers from the previous season, the team has managed to rebuild and perform well, showcasing their resilience and potential for continued success.
With upcoming games against Cincinnati and a few remaining series against top teams in the Big 12, the Mountaineers are determined to maintain their impressive performance. In the latest polls, Texas holds the top spot, with Arkansas and Clemson close behind. Other top teams like Tennessee, Georgia, and UCLA in the Big Ten are also making waves with their strong performances.
UCLA is set to face Oregon in a crucial series this weekend, while maintaining a lead over Iowa in the standings. Florida State bounced back from a three-game losing streak with a successful road sweep of Virginia Tech, securing a spot in the top 10 rankings. Despite a tough stretch of games, the Seminoles showed resilience with strong pitching performances from Joey Volina, Jamie Arnold, and Wes Mendes. In other baseball news, Damian Garcia of Texas Southern had an impressive game with four home runs and eight RBIs, while Oklahoma State’s Harrison Bodendorf delivered a stellar pitching performance with 10 strikeouts in a 4-2 win over Arizona. Eastern Illinois also made headlines with a 19-inning victory over Southeast Missouri State. For more college sports updates, visit https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports.
