Five things LSU fans should know about West Virginia ahead of super regional
Five things LSU fans should know about West Virginia ahead of super regional
LSU baseball is set for its 17th super regional in program history as the Tigers prepare to host West Virginia this weekend. LSU has gone 9-7 in those series, with the last win coming vs. Kentucky in 2023.
LSU punched its ticket after defeating Little Rock in Game 7 of the Baton Rouge Regional on Monday. At one point, it looked like LSU was on the way to being on the wrong side of a historic upset with the Tigers down 5-1 in the third inning. LSU roared back to win 10-6.
Now, LSU's attention turns to WVU.
This will be the first time LSU's ever faced West Virginia, so there's not much history between LSU and the Big 12 foe.
West Virginia sits 44-14 on the year after winning the Clemson Regional. WVU went on the road and claimed the regional title in three games without taking a loss. The Mountaineers sealed the deal with a back and forth 13-12 win over Kentucky.
Here are five things LSU baseball fans need to know about the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Overview of West Virginia's season
West Virginia entered 2025 unranked in D1Baseball's preseason top 25, but the Mountaineers were voted to finish fourth in the Big 12.
Then WVU got off to a 13-0 start and took advantage of an easy nonconference slate. When conference play began, WVU dropped a series to Arizona, but not long after, the Mountaineers rattled off four straight sweeps. That stretch included three-wins over a good Cincinnati team.
WVU's momentum was stunted just before the Big 12 tournament when the Mountaineers lost a series vs. Kansas State and Kansas. West Virginia won a game in the conference tourney but a 12-1 loss vs. Arizona ended their regular season.
West Virginia finished No. 28 in RPI and was sent to Clemson as a No. 2 seed. WVU began the regional with a 4-3 win over Kentucky before beating Clemson 9-6. The aforementioned 13-12 win in the rematch vs. UK earned WVU a trip to Baton Rouge.
West Virginia can handle the road
Perhaps the most impressive element of WVU's 44-14 record was its 24-5 record on the road. It's not easy to go on the road in college baseball. Only losing five times in 29 tries is an achievement.
WVU's status as a road warrior was once again confirmed by the Mountaineers' 3-0 record at the Clemson Regional.
But now, WVU faces a new test. LSU's Alex Box Stadium is one of the best environments in college sports. When The Box hosts baseball games in June, it gets loud. Really loud.
Much of what can be said for the power of Tiger Stadium across the street can be said for Alex Box. It doesn't have an equal. But if WVU's 2025 record is any indication, it won't be intimidated.
Pitching staff is among the best in the country
It's hard to match what LSU has in its starting rotation with Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, but WVU's one-two punch comes close.
Griffin Kirn was First-Team All-Big 12 with a 3.13 ERA (fourth in the Big 12) in 95 innings. Jack Kartsonas was Second-Team All-Big 12, but upstaged Kirn with a 2.94 ERA (second in the Big 12).
Expect Kirn to get the start on Saturday. Kirn is a fifth-year player who spent the first four years of his career at Quincy University. With 306 career innings, he's one of the most experienced pitchers in the sport. He struck out 96 hitters in 78 innings with Quincy in 2024, which earned him a shot in the Power Four.
Kirn was stellar in Game 1 vs. Kentucky last week, pitching 7.1 innings and only allowing a run. He pitched again the regional final, coming out of the pen for a scoreless inning. Kirn is a lefty, which could force LSU coach Jay Johnson to make some lineup adjustments.
In Game 2, Kartsonas gets the ball. Kartsonas, in fewer innings, has been even more effective than Kirn. Kartsonas is a strikeout thrower, ranking second among qualified Big 12 starters with 10.6 strikeouts per nine. He allowed just two runs in 5.1 innings in the regional.
Just like LSU, West Virginia has some questions elsewhere on the staff, but its two aces give them a chance in Baton Rouge.
West Virginia doesn't want to make it a slug fest
West Virginia didn't get here by smashing home runs. The Mountaineers ranked 11th in the Big 12 in slugging and homers. Just one WVU hitter has reached double-digit home runs this year -- Kyle West.
Entering the NCAA Tournament, WVU owned a wRC+ of 126, which ranked No. 86 nationally.
West Virginia's lack of power is good news for LSU. The Tigers' pitching staff is elite, but has been vulnerable vs. teams that can put the ball in the seats. LSU ace Kade Anderson has struggled to prevent home runs. Playing in a pitcher-friendly park like Alex Box could make the big swings even tougher for West Virginia.
It's a good matchup for the LSU pitching staff.
West Virginia can hit, though
While the pop isn't there, this unit shouldn't be slept it on. It did plate 13 runs in its last game, after all. West Virginia hits for average. The Mountaineers ranked third in the Big 12 with a .299 batting average and it doesn't strike out much either.
Sam White leads the group, hitting .352.
There's also Armani Guzman, who enters the weekend with a .337 average and is a threat to run when he gets on with 16 stolen bases on the year.
Guzman was big in WVU's regional clinching, totaling four hits and driving in three runs.
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