It’s difficult to see West Virginia bouncing back after making the mistakes that cost it the first game. On lineup talent alone, the Mountaineers have the ability to compete with the Tar Heels. But the Mountaineers really made some critical errors that might have damaged their chances to come back.
West Virginia has been on this path since the day the school moved into the Big 12 and decided it was going to play baseball with the big boys. Here’s a look at how West Virginia got here and why the Mountaineers have staying power as they head into a matchup with North Carolina.
The MLB season is underway, and with the season in full swing, we are here to help you determine who is good and bad. Teams will fall and rise throughout the season based on injuries, trades, acquisitions, and overall performance.
Suddenly, the Tucson Regional has swung wide open for West Virginia to win. The Mountaineers didn’t look great at the Big 12 tournament, going two-and-out. But they won Friday, and now they have a rested bullpen to boot.
If you’re not up on Division I baseball, you might see this matchup and think the Mountaineers are facing a small directional school that’s happy to be here. Dallas Baptist is anything but.
The Gauchos are here for a reason, and it’s because they can really pitch. UCSB came through a solid Big West that produced multiple tournament teams, and the Gauchos rank sixth nationally in ERA. Only Arkansas, Tennessee and East Carolina had a better ERA among tournament teams.
Arkansas returns this year with a No. 5 seed and outstanding pitching. The Razorbacks didn’t just lead the SEC in ERA; they led the nation with a 3.66 ERA as a team. They’ve got the best staff and the best overall pitcher in Hagen Smith, making them a favorite to get back to Omaha.
Kentucky’s hitting and speed has gotten it to this point. The Wildcats are a new baseball power, and they win by taking the extra base and hitting situationally. But the Wildcats’ strength can become their weakness in the wrong matchup, and Indiana State could be the wrong matchup.
Bring on the bats. If you love to watch offense, this is the regional for you, as some of the nation’s best offenses descend on Corvallis. Oregon State, UC Irvine and Nicholls are all in the top 25 nationally for runs scored, while Tulane averaged double digit runs per game in winning the American Conference tournament.