<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nGRANVILLE, W.Va. \u2014 <\/b>Second-year West Virginia baseball coach Steve Sabins can\u2019t script starts.<\/p>\n
If Sabins were afforded the chance to do so, however, it would almost certainly resemble how the first inning played out Friday when the Mountaineers welcomed Cal Poly for Game 1 of the Super Regional series.<\/p>\n
WVU starting pitcher Chansen Cole kept the Mustangs off the scoreboard during an efficient 12-pitch frame, and three of West Virginia\u2019s first four batters reached base, including a three-run home run from Sean Smith that set the tone in a 12-2 victory before 4,564 at Kendrick Family Ballpark.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThe team and staff is so focused,\u201d Sabins said. \u201cWe know what we\u2019re here to do. We\u2019re just trying to find ways to stay concentrated and win the next one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cole provided the Mountaineers (44-15) with the strong start they\u2019ve come to expect from the transfer from Division II Newberry College. He limited the Mustangs (39-23) to two runs on eight hits and recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts over seven innings. The even-keeled Cole threw a first-pitch strike to 19 of 30 batters and 83 of 121 pitches were strikes as he improved to 10-1 this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been told my whole life I\u2019m a pretty boring person,\u201d Cole said. \u201cIt\u2019s just trusting the routine you have and all the preparation and work you\u2019ve done.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAcross three appearances and two starts in the NCAA Tournament, Cole has thrown 14.2 innings, whole allowing three runs on 13 hits with 23 strikeouts and two walks, both of which came in Monday\u2019s relief appearance against Kentucky while throwing on short rest.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoring in the most beautiful way,\u201d Sabins said. \u201cShoving all season, collecting wins and sending us to Super Regionals \u2014 that\u2019s not boring.\u201d<\/p>\n
The strong start helped add to an already frenzied environment and Cole went on to strike out the side in the second and third innings, the latter of which he faced three batters in.<\/p>\n
![<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nGRANVILLE, W.Va. \u2014 <\/b>Second-year West Virginia baseball coach Steve Sabins can\u2019t script starts.<\/p>\nIf Sabins were afforded the chance to do so, however, it would almost certainly resemble how the first inning played out Friday when the Mountaineers welcomed Cal Poly for Game 1 of the Super Regional series.<\/p>\nWVU starting pitcher Chansen Cole kept the Mustangs off the scoreboard during an efficient 12-pitch frame, and three of West Virginia\u2019s first four batters reached base, including a three-run home run from Sean Smith that set the tone in a 12-2 victory before 4,564 at Kendrick Family Ballpark.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThe team and staff is so focused,\u201d Sabins said. \u201cWe know what we\u2019re here to do. We\u2019re just trying to find ways to stay concentrated and win the next one.\u201d<\/p>\nCole provided the Mountaineers (44-15) with the strong start they\u2019ve come to expect from the transfer from Division II Newberry College. He limited the Mustangs (39-23) to two runs on eight hits and recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts over seven innings. The even-keeled Cole threw a first-pitch strike to 19 of 30 batters and 83 of 121 pitches were strikes as he improved to 10-1 this season.<\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019ve been told my whole life I\u2019m a pretty boring person,\u201d Cole said. \u201cIt\u2019s just trusting the routine you have and all the preparation and work you\u2019ve done.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAcross three appearances and two starts in the NCAA Tournament, Cole has thrown 14.2 innings, whole allowing three runs on 13 hits with 23 strikeouts and two walks, both of which came in Monday\u2019s relief appearance against Kentucky while throwing on short rest.<\/p>\n\u201cBoring in the most beautiful way,\u201d Sabins said. \u201cShoving all season, collecting wins and sending us to Super Regionals \u2014 that\u2019s not boring.\u201d<\/p>\nThe strong start helped add to an already frenzied environment and Cole went on to strike out the side in the second and third innings, the latter of which he faced three batters in.<\/p>\n](\"https:\/\/s3.us-east-005.backblazeb2.com\/wvmn-s3\/2026\/06\/DSC_1231-scaled.jpg\"){kind=link}