Surprise, AZ — No. 2 West Virginia is just hours away from potentially making history with its first Big 12 championship in program history. Read more: How No. 2 West Virginia Baseball is inspiring pride across the state.
The only obstacle that stands in the way of that is No. 1 Kansas, a team WVU swept during the regular season.
Regardless of whether the Mountaineers finish the job and bring home the Big 12 championship trophy, the level at which the team has competed this season, and in recent years, has sparked an overwhelming sense of pride to not only throughout the university, but across the state of West Virginia as well.
Before the championship game, I got to have a conversation with WVU Deputy Athletics Director for External Affairs Matt Wells at the team hotel in Surprise, Arizona. One thing became clear during our conversation: the baseball program has represented West Virginia at the highest level.
A sense of pride
“Tremendous amount of pride,” Wells said. “Tremendous amount of value they have brought to the university and the state.”
Wells went on to talk about how well No. 2 West Virginia represents the school and the state in a way that sheds light on the hard work and dedication it has come to elevate the program to where it is now.
Related: WVU Baseball: One game from history (CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW)
Even before WVU started to have the success it has had in recent years, Wells still had good things to say about people that came before guys like current head coach Steve Sabins, former head coach Randy Mazey, and former athletic director Oliver Luck.
“To their credit prior to joining the Big 12, a lot of them worked extremely hard. They just weren’t given the resources to compete at the highest level,” Wells said.
The show goes on
In terms of this season and the success the team is currently relishing in, Wells mentioned that it’s not that different from recent years. He highlighted the program’s growing success year in and year out, and how it’s truly just been a team effort from top to bottom.
“Not much different from the past several years. We’ve been a program that has competed nationally since 2017,” Wells said. “A lot of excitement so far, similar to that. It’s been high for several years. Guys are excited, fan base, but also looking forward to what’s coming in several weeks. Guys are locked in, real team effort.”
When Mazey was still the head coach, and Sabins was one of his lead assistants, WVU made the NCAA Regionals in 2017 for the first time since 1996. They went on to lose in the Winston-Salem Regional, but Mazey quickly had the program back in the regionals two years later in 2019.
Flash forward to 2026, WVU is fresh off back-to-back NCAA Super Regional appearances, and on the verge of hosting the regionals just like Mazey’s squad did in 2019.
Hosting a regional
When it comes to the idea of likely hosting a regional in Morgantown, Wells was quick to the point and even hinted at the possibility of being considered for hosting a super regional as well.
“Yes in the regional, and safe to say we should be in that conversation to be a top eight seed to be mentioned in the super regionals,” Wells said.
Wells also talked about how West Virginia has put together a strong enough resume that will make it hard for the committee not to overlook, not just for the regionals, but for the super regionals as well if it comes down to that.
And when it comes to getting over the hump and making the illustrious trip to Omaha, Nebraska for the 2026 Men’s College World Series, Wells noted that it won’t take anything special for the team to get there.
“No special sauce. Keep playing to their ability. We are not a flash in the pan program. It’s not a group that needs some special fortune,” Wells said confidently.
History possibly in the making
With No. 2 West Virginia set to take the field in just a few hours at the time of publication, if there’s on factor that could help will the team to victory it’s the fans that have made long travel to Surprise, Arizona.
Related: Mountaineer fans showing out at the Big 12 tournament
Dozens of fans have poured into the stadium each day to watch the Mountaineers triumph over Kansas State and Arizona State. However, there was one fan in particular in attendance on Friday that Wells spoke quite highly about.
“What’s that say about the president of the university here on memorial weekend. It just shows you the excitement around the program here,” Wells said.
With WVU President Michael T. Benson in attendance for the Mountaineers’ win over the Sun Devils on Friday, support for this team was evident from top to bottom.
I was able to get in touch with President Benson, and he elaborated on just how proud he is of the student-athletes who represent the university on the baseball team.
“I’m so proud of these young student-athletes,” Benson said. “They continue to represent WVU extremely well, and I’m hopeful we will be hosting a regional next weekend in Morgantown.”
The overwhelming support for the Mountaineers has been on full display throughout the tournament. West Virginia will take the field against Kansas at 4:30 p.m. MT/7:30 p.m. ET, where it will look to accomplish something no team before it has done, win the Big 12 championship.
Editors note: This story was updated with President Michael T. Benson’s quote.
