By: Shanna Rose
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.–The West Virginia University baseball team welcomes Arizona to Kendrick Family Ballpark for a three-game Big 12 series starting on Friday.
The Mountaineers (18-1, 1-0 Big 12) are coming off two midweek wins over James Madison. On Tuesday night, WVU used their bats to take an 8-1 win over the Dukes. Then on Wednesday, they used their legs and arms to take a 3-1 win.
Last weekend the Mountaineers opened Big 12 play at Oklahoma State. However, wildfires led to just one game being played, which WVU won.
The Mountaineers are eighth in the country with a 3.14 ERA with nine pitchers owning ERAs below three.
On Friday, WVU will send Griffin Kirn to the mound. The southpaw is 3-0 with a 3.42 ERA and has 30 strikeouts.
Gavin Van Kempen will get the nod on Saturday. He is 2-0 with a 3.78 ERA and 19 strikeouts.
In Sunday’s finale, the Mountaineers will pitch Carson Estridge. The right-hander is 2-0 with 0.96 ERA and 13 strikeouts.
WVU head coach Steve Sabins has a lineup full of powerful hitters, including the home run king Grant Hussey. Earlier this week, the Parkersburg native hit his 40th career home run and he was the first ever Mountaineer to reach this feat.
Skylar King leads WVU with his .444 batting average and 1.107 OPS. Sam White, Jace Rinehart, Kyle West and Gavin Kelly all have an OPS over 1.000 as well. White leads the Mountaineers with 19 RBI.
The Wildcats (16-4, 3-0) come to Morgantown on their own hot streak. After starting the season 0-3, Arizona has won 16 of 17 games.
The Wildcats only loss came at the hands of defending College World Series champion Tennessee.
Arizona’s pitching has been their strength and the team enters the weekend with a 3.61 ERA and just 2.72 walks per nine innings, the lowest mark in the nation.
The Wildcats haven’t allowed more than five runs in their past 12 games and have given up just nine home runs all season, seven in big league parks.
Brendan Summerhill is hitting .427 and leads the nation with six triples.
The weather could play in WVU’s favor, as temperatures aren’t supposed to get over 60 degrees this weekend. However, it should be a good series between two of the country’s best teams.
Friday’s first pitch is at 6:30 p.m. (ET).
Photo Credit: Shanna Rose
