Mountaineers Ready for Home Opener Against Canisius

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University baseball team is set for its home opener against Canisius on Wednesday. First pitch from Wagener Field at Monongalia County Ballpark is set for 3 p.m.

Fans can watch the game on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and follow with live stats at WVUsports.com.

Pitching Probables
RHP Gavin Van Kempen vs. RHP Joe Lopinto

The Mountaineers are 4-4 on the season after splitting their first two series of the year on the road against Stetson and Charlotte.

Sophomore Skylar King leads WVU with a .375 batting average while sophomore Logan Sauve and junior Grant Hussey have a team-high three home runs. Sauve leads the Mountaineers with eight RBI while King leads the squad with five stolen bases.

Sophomore Gavin Van Kempen will get the start on the mound on Wednesday. The big right-hander is 1-1 on the season with four strikeouts in 2.1 innings pitched. In 2023, he went 3-0 with a 5.13 ERA in 12 appearances, including four starts.

Led by head coach Matt Mazurek in his seventh year, the Golden Griffins are 2-2 in 2024. Canisius has finished above .500 in conference play for 16 consecutive seasons, the longest streak in Division I.

The Golden Griffins were picked third in the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll behind favorite Fairfield and Quinnipiac. Junior outfielder Jackson Strong was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team.

Mike DeStefano and Trent Rumley lead the team with a .333 batting average. Freshman Joe LoPinto will get the start on the mound for Canisius, making his collegiate debut.

For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Schedule

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Players Mentioned

Grant Hussey

Skylar King

Logan Sauve

Gavin Van Kempen

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Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Gold vs. Blue on Sep 25, 2026 at 6 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Indiana on Sep 27, 2026 at 12 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Akron on Oct 2, 2026 at 5 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Gold vs. Blue on Oct 16, 2026 at 6 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Wright State on Oct 17, 2026

Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Gold vs. Blue on Oct 23, 2026 at 6 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Indiana State on Feb 26, 2027 at 3 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Baseball versus St. John's on Feb 27, 2027 at 11 a.m.

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Completed Event: Baseball versus Gold vs. Blue on September 18, 2026 ,

Completed Event: Baseball versus #5 North Carolina on June 17, 2026 , Loss , 7, to, 12

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