For the first time in school history, West Virginia baseball will advance to the Super Regional round, sweeping through the NCAA Tournament's Tucson Regional at Hi Corbett Field in rather dominant fashion.
Behind 17 hits, the third-seeded Mountaineers defeated fourth-seeded Grand Canyon 10-6 in the regional finale Sunday night, capping off a six-game showcase on the diamond that also included Dallas Baptist and host Arizona.
“Winning here (at West Virginia) means a lot to a lot of people,†WVU head coach Randy Mazey said following the win. “We’re not blessed with pro teams in our state.
“To win a regional like this, we represent a ton of people, not just our university and our community, but 1.8 million people in the state of West Virginia that I know are really, really proud of all of these guys right now and what they accomplished.â€
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The Mountaineers victory ensures that Randy Mazey, who announced that he will retire following the season, will have at least another round to coach his team. Mazey himself throughout his coaching career has been to Super Regional rounds, but said that he wants to make sure his team gets to experience something that they haven’t experienced before, including the College World Series.
“I’m motivated by them,†Mazey said about his team.
Sophomore catcher Logan Suave led West Virginia in the regional-clinching victory, logging three hits and three RBIs.
WVU (36-22) came out with their bats on fire Sunday night, scoring eight runs off of 10 hits in the first three innings to take a convincing 8-3 advantage early.
Right-handed pitcher Aidan Major, who replaced righty starter Hayden Cooper early in the first inning after Cooper ran into trouble allowing two runs, helped steady the ship in relief, only allowing one earned run in 4.2 innings. Major, along with righty Carson Estridge, excelled for the Mountaineers, combining for six strikeouts and only allowing two earned runs through 8.1 innings.
After struggling to find his groove offensively the past two games, WVU star JJ Wetherholt, a projected top MLB draft pick, showed up with his bat when it mattered most, recording three hits to help secure the victory.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, the shortstop Wetherholt, as he did a great deal throughout the weekend, showcased his elite fielding prowess, diving for a ground ball before pirouetting his body to make an impressive throw for an out at first.
“That’s the best play I’ve ever seen him make,†Major said. “In my opinion, that play, being able to make that at that time, really sealed the game. It took the last wind out of the sails for (the Antelopes). There’s only a few guys that can make that play and he’s one of them.â€
GCU was able to make some noise late in 9th inning, with sophomore first basemen Zach Yorke hitting a two-run home run to cut the lead to four, prompting the Mountaineers to insert lefty Derek Clark. Clark threw 101 pitches two days prior and was never supposed to be able to be put in Sunday, according to Mazey, but he delivered in the clutch to close out the regional.
“We rolled all the cards out on the table,†Mazey said. “(Derek) was ready, and he’s a guy that can throw a lot of pitches.â€
West Virginia will play the winner of the still to-be-decided regional in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Top seed North Carolina and second-seed LSU, the defending national champion, play Monday at 3 p.m. to determine which team will advance.
Despite the loss for GCU (36-25), which also made program history this weekend by winning its first NCAA Tournament Division I regional game, the Lopes are holding their heads high following what was an historic season for the program.
“To thinking our season was done and then to be able to come to a regional and kind of do what we do," senior Tyler Wilson said. "I know we didn’t end on the best note but I’m just so proud of my team and the way we fought all tournament.
"There was no quit in us.â€
With the monumental feat for the school, head coach Gregg Wallis and his team will take the strides made from this year and try to build off of it heading into next season.
“These guys have set a new standard for us, so we know what it feels like to be playing in a regional championship and hopefully that’s the standard that lives on at Grand Canyon in the future,†Wallis said.
Grand Canyon baseball coach Gregg Wallis and Tyler Wilson, Cade Verdusco speak on June 2, 2024, after the Antelopes fell 10-6 to West Virginia in the final game of the 2024 NCAA Baseball Tournament Tucson Regional at Hi Corbett Field. (Video courtesy Arizona Athletics)
Photos: Arizona falls to Dallas Baptist 7-0, game two of the NCAA Regionals
Arizona’s Emilio Corona (11) is consoled in a nearly empty dugout by athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois after the Wildcats 7-0 loss to Dallas Baptist in an elimination game of their NCAA Regional, June 1, 2024, Tucson, Ariz. The Wildcats went two-and-done in the regional.
Arizona shortstop Mason White (24) rolls the double play past Dallas Baptist’s Alex Pendergast (6) in the fourth inning of an elimination game of their NCAA Regional, June 1, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona’s Easton Breyfogle, left, and Brendan Summerhill hug as the stands empty out after the Wildcats’ 7-0 loss to Dallas Baptist in an elimination game as part of the NCAA Tournament's Tucson Regional Saturday afternoon at Hi Corbett Field.
Dallas Baptist’s Luke Heefner (12) gestures to his bench after slapping a double in the ninth inning of an elimination game against Arizona in the NCAA Regional, June 1, 2024, Tucson, Ariz. Heefner later scored, the final run of the game in the Patriots’7-0 win over the Wildcats.
Dallas Baptist designated hitter Tom Poole (24) gets his props in the top of the fifth after his second two-run homer of the game against Arizona in Saturday's NCAA Tournament elimination game in Tucson.
ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV outfielder Easton Breyfogle knocks a leadoff single against Dallas Baptist in the fifth inning of their elimination game in the Tucson Regional on June 1, 2024, at Hi Corbett Field.
Arizona senior starter Cam Walty throws against Dallas Baptist in the early innings of their NCAA Tournament elimination game Saturday, June 1, at Hi Corbett Field.
Arizona shortstop Mason White (24) playing in the second base hole lines up a grounder from Dallas Baptist’s Nathan Humphreys (8) for the final out on a fielder’s choice in the third inning of an elimination game of their NCAA Regional, June 1, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona third baseman Richie Morales (7) drifts under towering pop-up from Dallas Baptist’s Nathan Humphreys (8) in the eighth inning of an elimination game of their NCAA Regional, June 1, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona second baseman Garen Caulfield (1) runs down a ground ball by Dallas Baptist’s Alex Pendergast (6) in the sixth inning Saturday at Hi Corbett Field.
Arizona reliever Anthony Susac (34) deals against Dallas Baptist in the ninth inning of an elimination game of their NCAA Regional, June 1, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Dallas Baptist starter Jaron DeBerry (30) shovels to first to eliminate Arizona’s Adonys Guzman (18) in the second inning of Saturday's NCAA Tournament elimination game in Tucson.
Arizona right fielder Emilio Corona (11) comes in to glove a pop-up in no-man’s land by Dallas Baptist’s Michael Dattalo (5) in the fourth inning of an elimination game of their NCAA Regional, June 1, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona center fielder Brendan Summerhill heads into the gap to snare a fly by Dallas Baptist’s Alex Pendergast in the first inning of an elimination game of their NCAA Regional on June 1, 2024, at Hi Corbett Field.
A fan wraps up to hide from the sun at first pitch between Arizona and Dallas Baptist in an elimination game of their NCAA Regional, June 1, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Photos: Arizona falls to GCU in Wildcats' NCAA regional opener
Arizona starter Clark Candiotti (44) throws in the first inning against Grand Canyon in the NCAA Regionals, May 31, 2024, Tucson, Ariz. The Wildcats dropped the opener to the Lopes 9-4.
Arizona right fielder Emilio Corona slams into the wall chasing Grand Canyon batter Tyler Wilson’s solo homer that just cleared the fence in the top of the first inning.
Grand Canyon’s Tyler Wilson gestures skyward after knocking a solo homer on the game’s second pitch Friday.
Arizona left fielder Easton Breyfogle (12) slides in to snare a bloop fly by Grand Canyon batter Tyler Wilson (4) in the third inning of their game in the NCAA Regionals, May 31, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Grand Canyon first baseman Zach Yorke (27) can’t handle the throw as Arizona batter Maddox Mihalakis (33) reaches on a dropped third strike in the second inning of their game in the NCAA Regionals, May 31, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona third baseman Richie Morales (7) charges a sacrifice bunt by Grand Canyon batter Elijah Buries (29) in the second inning of their game in the NCAA Regionals, May 31, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Grand Canyon shortstop Emilio Barreras scoops up a grounder from Arizona’s Mason White for an out in the third inning Friday.
Arizona’s Maddox Mihalakis (33) looks into the Wildcat dugout after slapping a single against Grand Canyon in the third inning of their game in the NCAA Regionals, May 31, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona second baseman Garen Caulfield (1) tracks down a high pop-up into right field foul territory by Grand Canyon’s Michael Diaz (30) in the fourth inning of their game in the NCAA Regionals, May 31, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona center fielder Brendan Summerhill (4) makes the long run in to catch a short fly ball from Grand Canyon’s Zach Yorke (27) in the first inning of their game in the NCAA Regionals, May 31, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona’s Emilio Corona (11) waits on deck for his turn at the plate against Grand Canyon their game in the NCAA Regionals, May 31, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona catcher Blake McDonald makes the throw to first after pouncing on a sac bunt by Grand Canyon’s Alton Gyselman in the fifth inning of their game in the NCAA Regionals on May 31 at Hi Corbett Field.
Arizona shortstop Mason White moves to backhand a grounder in the second base hole by Grand Canyon’s Tyler Wilson to retire the Lopes in the fifth inning of their game in the NCAA regionals on May 31, 2024, at Hi Corbett Field.
Arizona third baseman Richie Morales (7) can’t get a grip on a dribbler up the line by Grand Canyon’s Zach Yorke (27) in the sixth inning of their game in the NCAA Regionals, May 31, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona shortstop Mason White turns the pivot over Grand Canyon’s Tyler Wilson on a double play in Friday's loss to the Antelopes.
Arizona’s Garen Caulfield (1) draws a breath before stepping against Grand Canyon in their game in the NCAA Regionals, May 31, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona second baseman Garen Caulfield (1) fakes a throw to first after forcing Grand Canyon’s Michael Diaz (30) on what ended up a fielder’s choice that left runners on the corners in the eighth inning of their game in the NCAA Regionals, May 31, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona’s Blake McDonald (2) gets hit by a pitch during a plate appearance against Grand Canyon in the eighth inning of their game in the NCAA Regionals, May 31, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona reliever Eric Orloff (29) fields a comebacker sac bunt by Grand Canyon’s Cade Verdusco (6) in the ninth inning of their game in the NCAA Regionals, May 31, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Grand Canyon third baseman Eli Paton, left, and first baseman Zach Yorke celebrate the final out in the Lopes’ 9-4 win over ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV on Friday night.
Arizona center fielder Brendan Summerhill (4) takes a moment to himself in the out field grass before the Wildcats take on Grand Canyon in the NCAA Regionals, May 31, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona coach Chip Hale talks with the home plate ump between innings of the game against Grand Canyon in the NCAA Regionals on May 31, 2024, at Hi Corbett Field.
Arizona infielder Mason White (24) waits his turn in the cage as the Wildcats take batting practice before first pitch against Grand Canyon in the opener of the 2024 NCAA Tournament Tucson Regional Friday at Hi Corbett Field.
West Virginia baseball coach Randy Mazey looks on from the WVU dugout early on in his team’s 10-6 win over Grand Canyon Sunday at Hi Corbett Field as part of the NCAA Tournament’s Tucson Regional. WVU went 3-0 in the regional and advances to the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in program history.
Michael Lev: UA baseball didn’t meet elevated expectations, but ’24 season still a success
