West Virginia University’s baseball team has made program history by claiming its first outright Big 12 Conference regular season championship. The Mountaineers clinched the title Thursday night, not by winning a game, but after Oklahoma State defeated Arizona State 6-2, eliminating any chance for another team to share the top spot.
Although West Virginia dropped its own game Thursday to Kansas 3-0, the outcome in the Oklahoma State game ensured the Mountaineers would stand alone at the top of the conference standings.
This marks just the second Big 12 title in program history and the first time the crown belongs solely to West Virginia. The Mountaineers previously shared the championship in 2023.
The Mountaineers’ 2025 season has been nothing short of remarkable. They kicked off the year with a dominant 13-0 run and finished nonconference play at 15-1, setting the tone for what would be a historic campaign.
West Virginia’s Big 12 journey began with some adversity. Their opening series at Oklahoma State was marred by wildfires in the Stillwater area, leading to the cancellation of two games. However, the Mountaineers managed to take the lone contest that was played, earning an 8-6 road victory.
Back home, WVU faced a tough test against Arizona and dropped two of three games in that series. But the Mountaineers bounced back strong, traveling to face BYU.
After losing the opener, West Virginia ignited a hot streak in conference play, stringing together 13 straight Big 12 wins, a stretch that solidified their status as title contenders.
Later in the season, the Mountaineers won two of three games at Texas Tech and continued to prove their depth and determination. They closed their regular season road schedule with a competitive series at Kansas State, taking one game to help push their final Big 12 record to 19-6.
Heading into the final weekend, West Virginia ranked third in the conference in batting average at .304, and second in team ERA with 4.85, showing their balance on both offense and defense.
A major factor in West Virginia’s success has been senior standout Jace Rinehart, who has been one of the most productive hitters in Big 12 play.
Rinehart leads the team in batting average (.385), slugging percentage (.688), runs batted in (32), and doubles (12). His dominance places him among the top six in each of those categories across the entire conference.
The Mountaineers’ consistency, grit, and offensive firepower carried them to the top of the Big 12 standings, overcoming weather disruptions, road challenges, and fierce competition. Now, they head into postseason play with a championship under their belt and momentum on their side.
For West Virginia baseball, 2025 will be remembered as the year they truly arrived as a force in the Big 12—not just by sharing a title, but by owning it outright.
