Two teams on a roll go head-to-head in the conference-opening weekend series. WVU (11-3) travels to Waco, Texas, to face the Baylor Bears (10-6) in Big 12 action. The Mountaineers have won the past 10 matchups against BU. Read more: WVU Baseball set to open Big 12 campaign against streaking Baylor.
Both WVU and Baylor come into the weekend on winning streaks. The Mountaineers made short work of Columbia twice and thumped Maryland to take three straight, while the Bears have won four consecutive outings.
BU is 9-0 at Baylor Ballpark thus far in 2026, posing a road challenge for a WVU squad that is 7-2 away from Morgantown.
Where the Mountaineers stand
A 10-0 pad going into the fifth inning did the job against a solid Maryland squad Tuesday. WVU pitchers gave up several walks late in the game, but nothing came of it.
Related: The Mountaineers beat up the Terrapins in Morgantown
The 10-3 victory over the Terrapins wrapped up a four-game home stretch in relatively comfortable fashion. The focus turns to Baylor, a team WVU has plowed through in every meeting since 2022.
WVU’s success this weekend depends on the likes of leading offensive unit Gavin Kelly, among others. Kelly holds the highest batting average among starters (.431), while having the most at-bats (58).
Where the Mountaineers will likely be tested the most is the bullpen. Arms such as Bryson Thacker, and JD Costanzo probably have a shot of facing higher end competition for the first time this season.
The pitching staff as a whole must prepare for a team averaging over six runs a game. On the flip side, the offense has to be ready to match the potential fireworks from the home team.
About the opponent
Baylor Baseball first fielded a team in 1902 and touts a history of success.
The Bears have made it to the College World Series on three occasions, the most recent being 2005. BU has 21 NCAA tournament appearances under its belt, along with multiple Big 12 title triumphs (one tournament, three regular season championships).
Baylor comes into the weekend hot off a 13-5 win over Sam Houston State on Tuesday. This past weekend, the Bears swept Air Force, outscoring the Falcons 18-5 in a three-game series.
Four of BU’s six losses come courtesy of ranked teams. Oregon State, Southern Miss, Texas, and UTSA all got the best of Baylor. The Bears, however, pull an upset over then-No. 11 Ole Miss in extras.
While WVU is not ranked this week, some may consider a Baylor series win an upset.
Related: WVU goes one-and-done in Big 12 tourney, loses to BYU by 20 (Men’s Basketball)
Regardless, the 10-6 squad is led by head coach Mitch Thompson in his fourth season at the helm. BU is 85-94 under Thompson since he took over, but the team has struggled in conference play (29-55).
Thompson’s 2026 roster is headed up by top hitter Travis Sanders and pitchers Zack Wallace and Lucas Davenport.
Sanders has started all 16 games thus far, batting .413 with eight doubles and a triple. Also, an honorable mention to unsung hero Tyce Armstrong, who leads the Bears with 24 RBI.
Wallace and Davenport headline the pitching staff. Wallace holds a 0.63 ERA through two starts (1-0) and six total appearances. Davenport, the Texas A&M transfer, is 1-0 with a perfect 0.00 ERA, with 6.1 innings pitched.
Overall, Baylor is a battle-tested team with no shortage of potential entering Big 12 play. BU poses the biggest challenge of the year thus far for WVU.
Take me out to the ballgame
The sun is going to beam down on Magnolia Field at Baylor Ballpark. Forecasts for Waco, Texas, predict temperatures in the 70s and 80s throughout the weekend. Sunday’s matinee has the potential to feature a high of nearly 87 degrees. On the plus side, forecasts call for a minimal chance of rain.
ESPN+ carries the TV broadcast throughout the series, and scheduled first pitch times (EST) are listed below.
- Friday: 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 3 p.m.
- Sunday: 12 p.m.
Related: WVU Women’s Basketball wins Big 12, eyes NCAA Tournament run
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