Meet WVU's "New" Softball Team

WVU is one of three Big 12 members without a softball team and Iowa State is the only member without a baseball team. Who knew that the absence of a softball and baseball program would draw two Big 12 foes together? That's what has happened over the last handful of days as West Virginia baseball and Iowa State softball have become each other's biggest fans.
How did this happen?
Well, it actually started nearly a month ago with WVU Barstool showing its support of the Cyclone softball team on Twitter but the relationship between the two programs really took off this weekend with both playing in Stillwater against Oklahoma State.
Shortly after their game ended on Saturday, the ladies walked over to the baseball field to watch the Mountaineers play and take game two, clinching the series over the ranked Cowboys. They cheered hard and maybe got under the skin of OSU fans a bit, but it was worth it.
West Virginia baseball 🤝 Iowa State softball
— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) April 16, 2023
Thanks for the support @CycloneSB!#HailWV pic.twitter.com/EMJsn1ppXE
OSU was upset so they threw up the score to our game… the whole stadium booed us. I love it here 😁 pic.twitter.com/03a8QSMNIe
— Lea Nelson (@leacj21) April 16, 2023
Update: @angelicagonz8 is one lucky girl pic.twitter.com/HvlEr6rhLL
— Lea Nelson (@leacj21) April 16, 2023
Their support didn't go unnoticed. WVU head coach Randy Mazey thanked the ISU softball team Saturday night and told them that his guys were rooting for them just as hard on Sunday. The Mountaineer support came through just as much although they weren't able to be present at the game. The Cyclones defeated OSU on Sunday and as they boarded the bus the entire team belted out Country Roads.
This crossover has been one of the craziest things our team has experienced! Thanks for the love West Virginia. We couldn’t have done it without all of your support 🫶🏼🏔️ @WVUBarstool pic.twitter.com/XAGao5l8UF
— Lea Nelson (@leacj21) April 16, 2023
To take things a step further, the ISU softball Twitter account threw a little jab at Pitt for good measure.
*cue Sweet Caroline*
— Iowa State Softball (@CycloneSB) April 16, 2023
THAT'S A CYCLONE WINNER!!! pic.twitter.com/Ds5nOVFs1R
West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker has been peppered with questions regarding a softball team since taking the job but has continued to say that it is not financially possible at this point in time. So as long as WVU lacks a softball program and Iowa State a baseball program, the relationship will only continue to grow stronger between the two fanbases.
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Schuyler Callihan is the publisher of West Virginia On SI and has been a trusted source covering the Mountaineers since 2016. He is the host of Between The Eers, The Walk Thru Game Day Show, and In the Gun Podcast. The Wheeling, WV native moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2020 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and Carolina Panthers.
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