WVU and Marshall. They go together like oil and water.
Bad blood aside, it is a rivalry that brings so much to the Mountain State for the better. No. 17 WVU (16-4, 5-1) visits Huntington for the first of its three schedules dates against Marshall (13-9, 5-1) this year. Read more: WVU Baseball heads to Marshall for first game of 2026 trilogy.
If weather did not interfere, these teams would have already played an impromptu game in February. For a short time, the Mountaineers and Thundering Herd agreed to play an extra game due to the cancelation of WVU’s series against Radford.
Now, the focus turns to the previously scheduled matchups. WVU faces Marshall on Tuesday at 6 p.m., before meeting again in Morgantown on April 7 and Charleston in May.
Since 2013, WVU is 20-6 against MU, but fell in their most recent meeting this past May.
Where the Mountaineers stand
WVU moved up three spots in the D1 Baseball rankings this week, thanks heavily in part to sweeping BYU. The Mountaineers averaged 10 runs per game in the series and took care of business.
Now sitting at No. 17, WVU hits the road for a midweek contest at Marshall and a three-game set at Arizona State. A one-off date with Arizona waits on the tail-end of the road trip, too.
Related: WVU Athletics weekend roundup (gymnastics, swim & dive, tennis, golf)
Standouts from the BYU series who have a chance to ride momentum into Tuesday include Sean Smith, Tyrus Hall, and Gavin Kelly.
Smith fared well in game three, nabbing a triple and a home run. The series finale also featured Hall stealing home, along with two other bases in the contest. It was Kelly’s weekend, though. The veteran Mountaineer picked up six hits, stretching all varieties.
Tuesday marks coach Steve Sabins’ fourth meeting against Marshall. In his first year at the helm, WVU took two of three against the Herd.
About the opponent
Marshall University first fielded a baseball team in 1896. The program made it to the NCAA Tournament in 1973 and 1978, but touts minimal historical success.
Now under fourth-year skipper Greg Beals, the Herd has its identity — and a field to call home. MU opened Jack Cook Field in 2024, the program’s first on-campus baseball venue. WVU is 1-1 at the new ballpark.
Beals has turned the program around since taking over. After a combined record of 34-74 and bottom conference rankings in his first two seasons, the tide has shifted.
A 33-26 campaign in 2025 resulted in a fourth-place regular season finish and deep conference tournament run.
After early struggles this season, Marshall found its stride. The Herd has won five of its last six games. MU is also much better within the confines of Jack Cook Field, boasting an 8-1 home record thus far in 2026.
This season’s team knows how to make contact with the ball. A roster-wide batting average of .315 is bolstered by Evan Bottone (.415) and Tyler Kamerer (.358).
They slug, too.
Marshall is tied with WVU for doubles (50), but the Herd goes yard quite often, with 26 home runs on the year.
MU gives up a lot of runs, though, which WVU has a chance to take advantage of. This could easily be an 8-10 run offensive performance for both teams.
Tune in
Rivalry action gets underway with a 6 p.m. first pitch in Huntington between WVU and Marshall.
Tune in to 100.9 FM The Torch or any of its nine affiliate stations across the John Fredericks Media Network. ESPN+ carries the TV broadcast.
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