White

Never in school history had any WVU team ever claimed such a championship. And now the Mountaineers (36-22) will be a lengthy stride closer to a possible berth in the prestigious College World Series, when play opens today in a best two-of-three Super Regional tournament.

The Mountaineers set the tone for their vital three-game win streak in the four-team Regional, when left-handed pitcher Derek Clark muffled the offense of first-game opponent Dallas Baptist University. Clark, a diminutive 5-foot-8 strike-throwing specialist, poured through the Patriot lineup with strike after strike and polished control of his fastball, slider and changeup.

In getting his fourth complete game of the season, Clark fanned eight, allowed just four hits and did not walk anybody.

The eventual 4-1 Mountaineer victory had the offense of catcher Logan Sauve to bulwark Clark’s game-long excellence. Sauve hammered a three-run home run over the cavernous centerfield fence at Hi Corbett Field. The telling blast was estimated at 420-feet and gave Clark and company a 3-0 lead in the third inning.

Clark protected the lead, which went to 4-0 on Reed Chumley’s RBI double, before the Patriots finally scored for the only time in the eighth. Chumley and Sam White each had two of WVU’s eight hits.

Clark moved his record for the 2024 season to 8-2.

In the winner’s bracket against Grand Canyon University, it was another left-handed pitcher, Tyler Switalski, giving the Mountaineers a well-pitched and winning effort.

Switalski had never pitched more than five innings in any game this season. But he stopped the Antelope batters in a 5-2 Mountaineer victory that meant WVU was the only unbeaten team remaining in the tournament.

In his much-needed 7.2 innings of strike-throwing work, Switalski allowed six hits, walked just one, struck out three and was nicked for only one earned run.

He was relieved by Hambleton Oliver and Carson Estridge, with Estridge credited with a save.

After Grand Canyon took a short-lived 1-0 lead, the Mountaineers scored the next five runs courtesy of Brodie Kresser’s three RBIs and the two runs scored by Chumley. West Virginia stole three bases and completed an important three double plays behind Switalski.

In its third game of the tournament, the Mountaineers had 17 hits in a 10-6 win over Grand Canyon, which had earlier eliminated Dallas Baptist.

Sauve contributed three hits and drove in three runs. JJ Wetherholt also had three hits. Grant Hussey went 2-for-4, with two runs batted in, and White added his two hits and two RBIs. Ben Lumsden weighed in with a pair of hits.

The pitching excellence came from relievers Aidan Major and Estridge.

Switalski

Starting pitcher Hayden Cooper could not get an out before Major replaced him. Major went 4.2 innings and then Estridge pitched 3.2 innings of worthy relief.

WVU built an 8-3 lead and was on top, 10-4, before an Antelope two-run homer in the ninth brought in Clark, who had just pitched on Friday and found that a day’s “rest” would be enough.

Clark needed 11 pitches to get the game’s final two outs (both strikeouts) and send the history-making Mountaineers off to a Super Regional, to be hosted beginning today by either Louisiana State University or the University of North Carolina.

It had been a three-game sweep in the 98-degree Arizona weather. But it had never been accomplished by any other WVU team.

Clark

Chumley