WVU took care of business during the week against James Madison, winning both games. They won Tuesday, 11-1, and Wednesday, 3-1. They move to 18-1 on the season before their second conference series. Arizona is 3-0 in the Big 12, while WVU is 1-0 after two games got postponed against Oklahoma State. The Mountaineers are rolling now but will face their first test since they only played one game against Oklahoma State. It should be a good weekend series in Morgantown to start sorting out the Big 12. Read more: WVU Baseball: Series Preview vs. Arizona
WVU Baseball: Series Preview vs. Arizona
Centerfielder Skylar King had a good week against James Madison, going three for three with one walk, one run, and one RBI through two games. The Mountaineers set themselves up to score by stealing bases against James Madison. They had five in each game and only got caught stealing once. First baseman Grant Hussey was the only player to hit a home run during the week, but the Mountaineers found other ways to score runs. The pitching staff did a great job, only allowing one run in each game.
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Arizona is 16-4 this season, 13-0 at home, 1-0 on the road and 2-4 on neutral fields. They swept Cincinnati last weekend in their first Big 12 series and beat Kansas 5-0 on Tuesday. They have losses to Ole Miss, Clemson, Louisville, and Tennessee, all ranked in the top 25. Brendan Summerhill leads the team with a .427 average, while Aaron Walton bats .391. They batted first and second and yielded lots of chances with runners in scoring position.
The Wildcats bat .306 as a team with 13 home runs, 16 triples, and 48 doubles. They rank 50th in the nation in batting average, while the Mountaineers rank 20th with a .322 average. West Virginia’s pitching staff continues to prove their worth, posting a 3.14 ERA this season, which ranks eighth in the nation. Arizona’s staff is no joke, ranking 27th with a 3.61 ERA.
West Virginia vs. James Madison Game Times
Game 1: Friday, March 21
- Start Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
- WVU Starter: LHP Griffin Kirn (3-0, 3.42 ERA, 26.1 IP, 30 K)
- Arizona Starter: RHP Collin McKinney (0-1, 1.29 ERA, 21.0 IP, 21 K)
- Watch: ESPN+
Game 2: Saturday, March 22
- Start Time: 4 p.m. ET
- WVU Starter: RHP Gavin Van Kempen (2-0, 3.78 ERA, 16.2 IP, 19 K)
- Arizona Starter: RHP Owen Kramkowski (3-1, 4.84 ERA, 22.1 IP, 25 K)
- Watch: ESPN+
Game 3: Sunday, March 23
- Start Time: Noon ET
- WVU Starter: RHP Carson Estridge (2-0, 0.96 ERA, 18.2 IP, 13 K)
- Arizona Starter: RHP Smith Bailey (1-1, 1.80 ERA, 25.0 IP, 25 K)
- Watch: ESPN+
The Mountaineers face two of Arizona’s best pitchers this weekend. Collin McKinney has been elite this season with a 1.29 ERA through 25.0 innings pitched, which ranks 23rd in the nation. He has 21 strikeouts and 11 walks, so the Mountaineers must remain patient at the plate and look for their pitch or draw a walk. Smith Bailey has also been a strong starter for the Wildcats. He has 25 strikeouts on the season with only nine walks. WVU’s bullpen will have to have strong outings this weekend and limit runs because they may be at a premium. James Madison ended the Mountaineers’ nine-game streak of scoring at least eight runs in a game. These games may also be low-scoring and the Mountaineers’ baserunning will be vital to win games this weekend.
