Going into their weekend series against Texas Tech, the starting rotation for West Virginia baseball might look a little different. The Mountaineers will have a different set of three starters for their weekend series.
In a 7-6 loss to in-state rival Marshall on Wednesday, a normal weekend starter for the Mountaineers got the midweek start against the Thundering Herd. Gavin Van Kempen has seen all his starts come in weekend series until Wednesday. Van Kempen was only able to go one inning, giving up one run with two strikeouts.
More than likely, the starting rotation for the upcoming weekend series against the Red Raiders will have a new look for first-year head coach Steve Sabins. To this point in the season, Sabins has not been shy about mixing and matching the starting rotation for weekend series. The only weekend series starter that has been consistently penciled in has been Game One starter Griffin Kirn. Kirn was named Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Week earlier this season and built steadily on his early-season success.
Robby Porco, Carson Estridge, and Jack Kartsonas have all been featured as starting pitchers during weekend series. After the weekend series against Texas Tech, there might be another name from the WVU pitching staff to add to this list.
With the season approaching the end of the regular season. Coach Sabins must be feeling pressure to find that third starter he feels most comfortable heading into the Big 12 Conference Tournament and post-season play.