WVU Baseball
WVU Baseball Continues Rise in Major Polls, Cracks a Top 10
As WVU Baseball moves up in one major poll, they crack the top 10 of another. Coming off another series sweep of a conference opponent, the Mountaineers improve their position in the national rankings.
West Virginia is now No. 16 on D1Baseball and a season-best No. 8 via Baseball America. Last week, D1Baseball had WVU at No. 17 and Baseball America had them at No. 14.
NEW COLLEGE TOP 25 🚨
The best teams in college baseball: https://t.co/4zBKndZXk2 pic.twitter.com/svVaUinWix
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) April 28, 2025
Even after being upset by Penn State in State College earlier in the week, which snapped their 14-game win streak, WVU ended the week on an extremely high note after finding ways to beat UCF three straight games.
And Sunday, West Virginia warded off any chance of a UCF comeback, capping their road series sweep with a 4-3 win.
The Mountaineers (37-5, 16-3 Big 12) erased an early 2-1 deficit with a three run rally in the fifth inning, and their pitching staff took it from there.
Jace Rinehart, who had a hand in all four runs the Mountaineers scored, put West Virginia in front in the first inning with a double down the line, plating Skylar King, who wore a pitch to lead off the game.
The Knights responded with a pair of doubles to tie the game, then jumped ahead in the second with another two-bagger. UCF loaded the bases in the third as Kartsonas continued to settle in, but the veteran righty escaped with a swinging strikeout.
Rinehart put the Mountaineers in front with a two out, two run double in the fifth, then a Sam White single made it 4-2.
The Knights pulled within a run in the sixth, then chased Kartsonas from the game with a two out double in the seventh, but McDougal slammed the door shut to secure the sweep.
Up next WVU will face Marshall at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, set for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30. The Mountaineers will serve as the home team at the neutral site this season.
Find more coverage of the WVU baseball program at WV Sports Now.
