GRANVILLE, W.Va. — Throughout most of their eight weekends and 24 games in Big 12 Conference play, the Mountaineers found themselves in competitive series that were decided in a rubber game on Sunday.
On the opening weekend in May however, West Virginia cruised through three one-sided games, including Sunday’s 13-6 series finale win against Kansas State, giving WVU their second conference sweep of the season. West Virginia won each of the three contests by at least seven runs.
“It was a smoother three-game set than what we have had,” said WVU head coach Steve Sabins. “We have battled and fought and grinded out series. We fell behind 0-1 and the whole season has been a little bit of a boxing match in a good way. I think our players are prepared. But at a certain point, you want to catch momentum, get hot and put some people away. That’s what we were able to do this weekend.”
West Virginia took an early lead in the bottom of the first when Matt Ineich scored on a throwing error.
After opening the game with a pair of scoreless frames, WVU starting pitcher Dawson Montesa ran into trouble in the third inning. He walked three batters and hit another, forcing in a run to tie the game at 1. However, Montesa escaped further trouble in the frame. He pitched four innings, striking out six batters.
“You are on the edge of your seat a little bit,” Sabins said. “You are like, I don’t know if he is going to find it. I felt like the tempo and the body language was a little bit in overdrive, like he was seeing red instead of being able to reset and make a pitch. But then he did in the biggest moment. That was huge for us.”
The Mountaineers answered back in the bottom of the inning on a run-scoring double from Paul Schoenfeld. He had eight hits in the three-game series.
“I have played with a chip on my shoulder my whole life,” said Schoenfeld. “I have never been a big guy or a standout guy. I just continue to be myself out there and be the best version of myself every single day.”
Leading 2-1, WVU broke the game open with a five-run fourth inning. Brodie Kresser, Ineich and Sean Smith all collected run-scoring hits in a span of four batters.
Steve Sabins on sweeping Kansas State in three one-sided games: pic.twitter.com/A6du1ur4iS
— Joe Brocato (@joebrowvm) May 3, 2026
After both teams went silent on the scoreboard over the next three innings, K-State made some noise in the top of the eighth inning. A three-run, pinch-hit home run off the bat of Shea McGahan cut the KSU (26-22, 9-15 Big 12) deficit in half at 7-4.
However, West Virginia answered back with six runs in the bottom of the eighth to put the game out of reach. Home runs by Tyrus Hall, Kelly and Smith capped the rally. Kelly hit his eighth homer of the season while Smith added his seventh.
“I have been struggling at the plate a little bit,” Hall said. “A lefty came in. We have seen this guy before. I was hunting something up. First pitch came in and I got my head out and drove it.”
“Usually, homers come in clumps,” Sabins said. “Home runs just come in bunches where guys see the ball and the flight of the ball changes a little bit. Kelly has had maybe more productive offensive series this year. He had a few more strikeouts but then he had a couple really big swings of the bat. And the same with Sean.”
WVU outscored KSU, 29-7 in the three-game series. The Wildcats’ leading hitter, Dee Kennedy, went 0-for-10 in the series.
“I thought we were able to keep him off balance and we made some really big pitches with two strikes,” Sabins said. “That guy doesn’t swing and miss a ton. Our pitchers just executed really, really well. To be able to neutralize that guy is basically the series.”
Carson Estridge was credited the win in relief, improving his record to 4-0. He allowed two runs in 2.2 innings of work. Reese Bassinger secured the final five outs in relief.
Schoenfeld led WVU with three hits. Ineich, Smith and Kresser also had multi-hit games. Armani Guzman had a double, scored twice and he collected his 26th stolen base of the season.
KSU starting pitcher James Guyette fell to 5-2 with the loss. He allowed seven runs (five earned) in four innings.
West Virginia (31-12, 16-8 Big 12) will play their final midweek game Tuesday when they face Marshall at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston. The Mountaineers will visit Big 12-leading Kansas next weekend. WVU remains in second place in the Big 12 standings, trailing the Jayhawks (37-11, 20-4) by four games.