West Virginia Welcomes Xavier for Weekend Series

The Mountaineers meet the Musketeers for the final nonconference weekend series of the year

The No. 24 West Virginia Mountaineers (16-5) host the Xavier Musketeers (10) in a three-game weekend series with the first pitch for game one set for 1:00 p.m. and streaming on ESPN+.

West Virginia comes into the weekend having won 10 of their last 11 outings with the lone loss coming against Hofstra on Tuesday before bouncing back on Wednesday to spit the two-game series.

J.J. Wetherholt leads the Big 12 Conference in batting average at .447 and stolen bases with 22. The sophomore ranks third in slugging percentage (.753) and on base percentage (.529) and his nine doubles on the season ranks second in the league to go with team-highs five home runs and 26 RBIs.

Braden Barry is on an 11-game hitting streak and has a .307 batting average with seven doubles, two triples and four home runs. The junior also leads the Big 12 in runs with 27.

Ben Hampton is scheduled to start game one for the Mountaineers. He picked up his first win of the season last week against UNCG. The junior left-hander holds a 3.38 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 29.1 innings.

Blaine Traxel is expected to take the mound in game two. The senior is coming off his third complete game of the season and his fourth win versus UNC Greensboro. He has a 2.03 ERA and 31 strikeouts in an NCAA-leading 40.0 innings.

Sophomore Grant Siegal is the probable starter for game three. He collected both of his wins in his last two starts on the year allowing three runs on three hits in 10.2 innings in the two outings.

Despite sitting at .500, Xavier is one spot above West Virginia in the RPI at 34. The Musketeers have won 10 of their last 15 games.

Hayden Christiansen leads the team in hitting with a .447 average while Matthew DePrey has a team-high eight home runs.

Ethan Bosacker is expected to start in game one. The senior is 2-1 with a 2.17 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 29.0 innings pitched.

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