West Virginia’s bid to clinch an outright Big 12 baseball championship was put on hold Sunday after a wild eighth inning from Kansas State turned a tight game into a 14-9 loss for the Mountaineers.
Playing at Tointon Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas, the Wildcats exploded for seven runs in the eighth, capped off by a crushing grand slam from Seth Dardar. The win gave Kansas State the series and temporarily halted WVU’s path to claiming its second-ever Big 12 title.
The Mountaineers, currently ranked No. 13 nationally, now sit at 40-10 overall and 19-6 in Big 12 play. While the loss didn’t eliminate their championship hopes, it did leave their magic number at one. WVU will need just one win in their upcoming three-game home series against Kansas or one Arizona State loss next weekend to secure the conference crown.
Arizona State helped delay WVU’s celebration by dominating Houston 13-1, keeping the Mountaineers from locking up the title on Sunday. The Sun Devils head to Oklahoma State for their final Big 12 series, while WVU hosts Kansas at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
Interestingly, WVU was in a similar situation at this point last season. In 2023, they needed one win in their final Big 12 series to clinch the title but were swept by Texas, resulting in a three-way tie.
This year, no tie is possible due to WVU playing two fewer conference games—cancellations caused by wildfires at the start of league play. The standings will ultimately be decided by winning percentage.
For WVU to lose the title, Arizona State would need to sweep Oklahoma State, and Kansas would need to sweep the Mountaineers.
Sunday’s game was a roller coaster, with four lead changes and a combined 29 hits. WVU was just six outs away from clinching the title when it led 8-7 going into the eighth. But things unraveled quickly.
Kansas State opened the inning with Sam Flores getting hit by a pitch and Maximus Martin doubling. A.J. Evasco tied the game with an RBI single, and Bear Madliak gave the Wildcats the lead with another RBI hit. After a bunt and a walk loaded the bases, Dee Kennedy added a run, and then Seth Dardar launched a 359-foot grand slam to break it wide open.
WVU reliever Carson Estridge was charged with five of the runs, though Reese Bassinger—who began the inning—was handed his first loss of the season.
Mountaineer starter Jack Karstonas struggled in a crucial outing, lasting just four innings while giving up four runs on eight hits. The bullpen also faltered, with Tyler Hutson failing to record an out in the fifth inning, which helped Kansas State build a 7-3 lead.
WVU fought back with a rally of its own. In the seventh inning, Sam White smashed a three-run homer that traveled 364 feet to right field, giving the Mountaineers a temporary 8-7 advantage. White and Chase Swain each had three RBIs, while Logan Sauve contributed two more with a double in the third inning.
The Mountaineers mounted a short-lived rally in the ninth, with Swain doubling in Jace Rineart. But the momentum quickly stalled as Grant Hussey, Gavin Kelly, and Brodie Kresser struck out in order to end the game.
Despite losing five of their last eight games, WVU still controls its own destiny. One win this weekend or one Sun Devil loss will seal a Big 12 title that’s been within reach all season. But after Sunday’s collapse, they’ll need to finish strong to avoid a repeat of last year’s heartbreak.
