West Virginia Crushes Arizona to Even the Series

The Mountaineers etched 14 hits to bring around 11 runs to knock off the Wildcats

Christopher Hall | Mar 23, 2025

West Virginia University outfielder Jace Rinehart / Christopher Hall - West Virginia on SI

Morgantown, WV – West Virginia junior Sam White was 3-5 at the plate with five RBI and senior Jace Rinehart was two-for-four with a solo home run and a double to lead the Mountaineers (19-2, 2-1) past the Arizona Wildcats (17-5, 4-1) Saturday afternoon 11-3 to even the series.

Arizona junior Brendan Summerhill hit a leadoff double into the gap in left-centerfield in the top of the first inning and junior Mason White pulled a one-out RBI double down the right field line for the early 1-0 Wildcat lead.

The Wildcats added a run in the second when senior Tommy Splaine worked a leadoff walk, and advance to second on a line drive single from senior Richie Morales and Arizona was up 2-0.

West Virginia tied the game in the bottom of the third after Chase Swain reached on an errant throw from third and Kresser made it to second on a ground ball to second and no one was there to cover for an attempted double play before junior Sam White smacked a two-RBI double to left-center, tying the game at two.

Tommy Splaine reclaimed the Arizona lead in the top of the fourth with a leadoff homerun.

Senior Jace Rinehart evened the game in the bottom of the frame, clubbing the 1-1 pitch 406 feet for the leadoff home run. Then, the Mountaineers claimed their first lead and opened the game up. With the bases loaded, senior Brodie Kresser hit a short line drive up the middle that bounced off second base into right field for a pair of RBI.

West Virginia would reload the bases and Arizona head coach Chip Hale called out to his bullpen for senior right-hander Raul Garayzar. White stepped to the plate and on the drove a base clearing double off the right-centerfield wall to cap a seven-run fourth inning and give the Mountaineers a 9-3 advantage.

In the seventh, Rinehart hit a leadoff double and junior Skylar King followed with a hard ground ball down the right field line for an RBI double, and senior Grant Hussey snuck a line drive through the right side for an RBI single as the Mountaineers stretched the lead to eight, 11-3.

Senior right-hander Reese Bassinger threw 5.1 scoreless innings and notched eight strikeouts on the day as the West Virginia took the 11-3 decision.

MORE STORIES FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON SI