WVU Baseball Stays Firmly Ranked in Major Polls Despite Rough Week

In a fortunate twist of fate, WVU baseball remains firmly ranked despite coming off their worst week of the season.

West Virginia followed an embarrassing 23-1 loss to Backyard Brawl rival Pitt with a Big 12 series loss over the weekend. The Mountaineers are even coming off back-to-back losses to Cincinnati from Saturday and Sunday.

However, WVU enters the new week ranked inside the top 20 in every major poll and as a high as 16, their spot on the NCBWA poll. West Virginia is also at No. 17 on Perfect Game, No. 18 on D1Baseball and No. 20 via Baseball America.

Most recently, WVU fell 7-5 to Cincinnati on Sunday, April 26, losing their road series after a five-run Bearcats’ rally in the eighth inning.

After mowing through the sixth and seventh inning, Mountaineers’ (28-11, 13-7 Big 12) reliever Carson Estridge allowed a leadoff single in the eighth, losing his full count duel with Cincinnati outfielder Ryan Tiranski. Head coach Steve Sabins turned to closer Reese Bassinger, who threw 73 pitches in the first game of the series less than 48 hours prior. Bassinger gave up four straight singles and the lead, while an error from catcher Matt Graveline allowed another run to cross before a double play ball ended the onslaught.

Up next, WVU Baseball will travel to face Penn State at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29.