It’s hard to put into words just how much the Mountaineers’ gritty performances and dramatic comeback wins in the Clemson Regional meant to the West Virginia fan base. But there’s no doubt the team felt it and wore that emotion like a badge of honor. From the dugout, their camaraderie was unmistakable. A unified group feeding off each other’s energy, often spilling into spirited (and mostly friendly) back-and-forths with opposing teams. READ MORE: Fueled by Emotion: Chase Meyer and the Mountaineers March On.
That energy hit another level when Chase Meyer took the mound against Clemson. With the bases loaded and WVU having just lost the lead in the seventh inning, Meyer immediately made his presence felt, inducing a clutch double play to escape the inning and swing momentum back toward the Mountaineers.
Originally slated to start Game 3 of the Regionals, the coaching staff told him to stay ready in case the moment came.
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“It kind of came down to being in a close game,” Meyer said. “Like, this could go south real quick – and the coaches told me, ‘We need you hot and ready for a big strikeout.’ I was just playing light catch, and then the moment arrived with the bases loaded, and I was the guy they called on to get us out of that situation.”
Sweet Emotion
It’s hard to fault any player for letting emotion take over in a moment like that. This was the NCAA Regional, hosted by Clemson—a program Mountaineer fans love to challenge and, often, get the better of. The same fiery energy that fueled WVU’s success in the seventh inning may have started to work against them by the ninth.
“Later in the game, as you saw, I have a big Grade-A ‘B’ with Cam Cannarella, who’s been jawing with our guys the whole time,” Meyer said. “It was really important for me to get him out. As good of a hitter as he is—he took my fastball up the middle. He got a hit, and then after that, it was like I used up all my emotion because I thought I was going to get Cam out.”
The coaches sensed it too, making the decision to bring in Ben McDougal with a 2-0 count and two outs in the ninth. He delivered, sealing the win with a clutch strikeout.
“You’re human, so you’re going to have a selfish opinion – you want to finish it, you’re a competitor,” Meyer explained. “It’s not like this with every squad… It’s ultimately a brotherhood, knowing that the next guy coming in has my back no matter what. And if McDougal didn’t get it done, then he didn’t get it done. But he did, and he showed what it takes. He’s going to earn himself a lot more going down the road as we make a run for this.”
Livin’ On The Edge
This weekend wasn’t about one player – it was about a team that refused to back down, no matter the stage or the odds.
“I think a good thing about this group is, no matter what, we all want to do well for each other,” said Meyer.
From timely hits to clutch pitching changes, every Mountaineer played a part in one of the most memorable regional runs in program history. But if this team wants to take it even further and beat LSU in Baton Rouge and maybe even make a run at a national title – they’ll need every bit of that same passion and intensity. The games only get tougher from here, and that edge they played with in Clemson must travel with them.
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