By: James Gravley | WV Sports Chat
The West Virginia Mountaineers enter a non-conference midweek matchup against Big 12 foe Arizona Wildcats on Tuesday.
The reason being this game is not a conference game is due to the fact that WVU-Arizona scheduled this game prior to Arizona joining the Big 12.
WVU enters this game on a two game winning streak, sitting 19-5 overall and 7-2 in conference play. Meanwhile on the other side, Arizona enters on a three game skid and 9-18 overall and 2-7 in conference play.
Arizona just hasn’t found themselves on the right side of games this year. In games decided by three runs or less Arizona has lost 12 of those games. That is not a good winning percentage for a team who was hosting a regional just a couple years ago.
In that 2024 season, West Virginia traveled out west to Arizona in the Tucson Regional in which they defeated Dallas Baptist and Grand Canyon twice. They never met up with Arizona that year, who was a favorite to make a run deep in Omaha. WVU would eventually lose to UNC in the Super Regional.
In the seven times the two clubs have met, Arizona holds a slight edge with a 4-3 record over the Mountaineers.
Last year when the two teams met Arizona made light work of WVU in the Big 12 tournament taking down the Mountaineers, 12-1. Arizona has won its last two games against WVU by the combined scores of 23-5.
Entering this game though West Virginia pitching should be well rested. Primarily the bullpen. The Mountaineers did work seven pitchers in the first game of the series against Arizona State, but only used a total of three relievers between Saturday and Sunday.
Photo: Shanna Rose – WV Sports Chat
