For three straight games, it looked like West Virginia baseball might be finished. But the Mountaineers (44-14), ranked No. 24 nationally, had other plans—plans that did more than just secure a trip to the NCAA Super Regionals. They sparked a revival in WVU’s athletic reputation.
Here’s a stat to set the tone: WVU scored 26 total runs to win the Clemson Regional, with 12 of those runs coming in the eighth inning or later. Every victory was a comeback, capped off by an unforgettable 13–12 win over Kentucky on Sunday night.
“I think this team has been doubted throughout the season,” said head coach Steve Sabins. “They’re the most resilient bunch of kids I’ve had the pleasure of coaching.”
Resilient is just one way to describe them. Clutch. Gritty. Even heroic. WVU didn’t just beat Clemson and Kentucky—they stared down adversity and won when it mattered most.
Never Losing Faith
One of the most powerful moments came when WVU catcher Logan Sauve recalled a key moment in the Kentucky game. Down 11–7 in the sixth inning, Grant Hussey crushed a bases-loaded shot that looked like it would tie the game—until the ball fell just short into the glove of Kentucky’s outfielder.
“That could’ve crushed us,” Sauve admitted. “But I turned to Armani [Guzman] and said, ‘We’re going to win this game.’ There was never a doubt—through the game, through the whole weekend.”
And they did.
From Setbacks to Redemption
This run couldn’t have come at a better time. WVU’s athletic department has taken its share of hits this school year.
The football coach was fired. The men’s basketball team missed the NCAA tournament and lost its coach to Indiana. Even the baseball team stumbled late, with crushing walk-off losses to Marshall and Pitt, and a rough series against Kansas that nearly derailed their Big 12 hopes.
In the Big 12 tournament, they were soundly defeated by Arizona.
So, yes—people had reasons to doubt. But now? Those same fundraisers who had little to pitch are suddenly holding a golden ticket.
A Program on the Rise
For the second straight year, WVU baseball is among the final 16 teams still standing in the national title race. The program is no longer on the outside looking in. It’s here—and it belongs.
“I think it would be fair to say we’re a top 16 program in the country, for the last two years at least,” Sabins said. “We’ve built something special in Morgantown. We’ve had 12 big leaguers in the last 10 years, won two Big 12 titles in three years, and claimed an outright Big 12 championship.”
This year, unlike last season’s regional in Tucson where they never had to face the host school, WVU fought through the heart of the storm. They took down Clemson in a sold-out, hostile environment and beat powerhouse Kentucky—twice.
A Confidence Boost for All
Regional MVP Armani Guzman was a key part of the run, going 8-for-12 with six RBIs in three games—despite not playing much the past month and a half.
“To the whole team, it shows we all have it,” Guzman said. “It’s a big confidence boost for every guy.”
This wasn’t just a baseball story. It was a moment of renewal for WVU athletics. A story about resilience, unity, and the kind of determination that can change the trajectory of an entire program.
A New Era of Mountaineer Pride
West Virginia has always prided itself on its sports legacy, with legends like Jerry West, Major Harris, Sam Huff, “Hot” Rod Hundley, and Da’Sean Butler. But now, the Mountaineers are becoming known for something new: baseball excellence.
“To say our program is in the upper echelon of Division I baseball would not be an understatement,” Sabins said. “I think we proved that this weekend.”
Indeed, they did. And the entire country is taking notice.
