They are the top two WVU Baseball hitters through the first 10 games of the season. Gavin Kelly and Matt Ineich are the focus of this player spotlight. Read more: Player spotlight: Two-headed monster of Kelly, Ineich.
No. 23 WVU holds an 8-2 record at the time of publication. The Mountaineers are led offensively by the aforementioned duo. It takes a full team to make the trip to Omaha, but if WVU gets there, it requires consistency from these two.
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Of 110 hits for WVU thus far in 2026, 36 come from the pair (18 each).
How they got here
Ineich made his way to Morgantown via portal, transferring in from Ohio University. The former Bobcat made his old team pay in late February, going 4-5 from the plate in the home opener.
Kelly, a sophomore, has only played for WVU at the collegiate level. The Pittsburgh native made his way down I-79 to join the Mountaineers, and now sits comfortably among the pillars of the roster.
Early offensive prowess
Great players carry momentum the whole season through. It is too early to tell if these guys can keep it up at this rate, but they have proven themselves early.
Ineich leads the Mountaineers with a .450 batting average, with 18 hits in 40 at-bats. He only trails Kelly (6) for most doubles with five, and is one of two WVU batters to collect a triple thus far.
Kelly, on the other hand, is batting .409 with 18 hits in 44 at-bats. The sophomore sent both of his home runs toward the Waffle House behind right field at Kennesaw State.
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They have also shown plate discipline, combining for 15 walks. Ineich has eaten three pitches to the body, too, taking a free base for his troubles.
If the firepower persists, the duo is going to be at the forefront of WVU’s success down the stretch.
Defense
Fielding is the other half of the equation, considering both play positions instead of serving as designated hitters (at least on a regular basis).
Kelly is “the” utility guy on the roster, a do-it-all type. He has made 59 catches in the field, good for second on the team behind Matthew Graveline.
The Pittsburgher has yet to make a fielding error, which is always a plus.
For Ineich, a flexible infielder, he has nabbed 40 catches. The OU transfer has an error to his name, but alas.
What’s next?
Both Kelly and Ineich stand out as the early-season two-headed monster for WVU Baseball.
The March 3-4 series against the Highlanders features 2 p.m. slated first pitch times, barring weather.
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