The West Virginia Mountaineers have started their season going 6-1, with their latest win coming over the Ohio Bobcats on Wednesday in front of a home crowd for the first time in 2026.
Winning by a final score of 19-6 over the Bobcats, the scoreboard may be a little misleading. Before scoring five runs in the sixth inning, WVU only held a 9-6 lead over Ohio (1-6). But in the end, WVU was able to pile on late to make its win on Wednesday appear more convincing. Here are
WVU might have found its power sources in the lineup
Two hitters in the lineup might be the answer to losing the power production from last year’s team. All-time program home run leader Grant Hussey, and West Virginia native Kyle West are gone from last year’s team, leaving some big shoes to fill in the linep.
A question that remained unanswered entering theseason was where the power would come from this season. Two leading candidates to replace them appear to beOhio State transfer Matthew Graveline and Division II Colorado Mesa transfer Paul Schoenfeld, and that was evident during the win against Ohio.
Graveline, went 1-for-1 with a home run, two RBIs, and three walks. Prior to the win over Ohio, Graveline was leading the team with two home runs and was tied for second on the team for RBIs (7), tied with shortstop Matt Ineich and only behind Schoenfeld.
As for the Schoenfeld, the outfielder went 2-for-5 with three RBIs, a double, a triple, and one run scored. Leading the team in RBIs before the matchup against Ohio, Schoenfeld entered with a .273/.407/.500 slash line, good enough for a .907 OPS early in the season. The former Division II outfielder has also added one home run through the first seven games in 2026.
Matt Ineich might have been the best pickup in the transfer portal
It is still very early in the season, but shortstop Ineich might be the best pickup for the Mountaineers in the transfer portal. Not only is Ineich ultra reliable playing above-average defense in a crucial defensive spot for the Mountaineers, but his bat has been icing on the cake.
Playing against his former team in the Bobcats on Wednesday, Ineich delivered a strong performance, going 4-of-5 with three runs, three RBIs, and two doubles.
Through the first six games of the season, Ineich was second on the team in qualified hitters in batting average (.476), only behind infielder Brodie Kresser, last year’s main shortstop. The former Bobcat was leading the team in hits (10) and was second in OPS (1.267), behind only Kresser.
Starting with a win at home is the perfect way for head coach Steve Sabins to begin his second season as the head coach. Sabins and the Mountaineers will aim to make their third straight Super Regional appearance this coming summer.