After his dazzling start during Game One of WVU baseball's series against Queens (N.C.), Mountaineer pitcher Griffin Kirn has been named Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Week for his efforts. Kirn is off to a great start in his graduate season at WVU after spending four years at Division 2 powerhouse program Quincy University.
π ππ’π ππ ππ¨-ππ’πππ‘ππ« π¨π ππ‘π ππππ€ π@kirn_griffin with the well-deserved honor! pic.twitter.com/qvgw2Fx1Nq
β WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) March 3, 2025
Recording eight innings pitched, only allowing one run (unearned) while collecting 10 strikeouts with zero walks, Kirn was lights out on the mound against the Royals.
Led by Kirn, the Mountaineers bested Queens by a score of 7-1 last Friday, which helped kickoff a series sweep that moved WVU to a perfect12-0 on the season. The left-hander pitcher filled up the strike zone and got himself ahead of the Queens' hitters all night.
Kirn shared the accolade with Oklahoma Stateβs Harrison Bodendorf. This season, Kirn is currently 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA while collecting 16 strikeouts in 17.2 innings of work. He has made three starts in the young 2025 season and has been crucial in two games for the Mountaineers' effort in winning.
From Division 2 star to Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Week, Kirn continues to shine
In his first game, Kirn made a good first impression with WVU fans. The left-handerβs fastballs caught the attention of the ESPN+ commentating crew, with one member of the team commenting that Kirnβs "fastball has some extra life to it.β
His second start wasnβt as impressive as his first, but Kirn returned to form during his third outing.
Kirn has positioned himself as the Game One, or βFriday starterβ for WVU, which is a prominent role to fill when jumping from the Division 2 level to a power conference at the Division 1 level.
Two major pieces of the starting rotation from last season were drafted in the 2024 MLB Draft in Aidan Major and Derek Clark. Coming into the 2025 season, many Mountaineer fans were curious about who would step up in starting roles this season, and Kirn has proven himself capable of the job.