Chansen Cole’s – Chansen Cole shut down Cal Poly early and finished with a season-high 11 strikeouts as West Virginia routed the Mustangs 12-2 in the Super Regional opener at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
GRANVILLE, W.Va. — By the time Friday’s first inning ended, West Virginia already looked like it had the next step locked in.
Cal Poly came to the plate facing WVU starting pitcher Chansen Cole. and the Mustangs didn’t score during an efficient 12-pitch frame. Three of West Virginia’s first four batters reached base. and then Sean Smith delivered a three-run home run that set the tone in a 12-2 victory before 4. 564 at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
“It’s so focused,” West Virginia second-year coach Steve Sabins said. “We know what we’re here to do. We’re just trying to find ways to stay concentrated and win the next one.”
Cole, a transfer from Division II Newberry College, gave the Mountaineers the opening they’re known for. He limited Cal Poly (39-23) to two runs on eight hits and recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts over seven innings. Cole threw a first-pitch strike to 19 of 30 batters, with 83 of his 121 pitches landing for strikes, improving to 10-1 this season.
“I’ve been told my whole life I’m a pretty boring person,” Cole said. “It’s just trusting the routine you have and all the preparation and work you’ve done.”
Across three appearances and two starts in the NCAA Tournament, Cole has thrown 14.2 innings while allowing three runs on 13 hits with 23 strikeouts and two walks—both of which came in Monday’s relief appearance against Kentucky while throwing on short rest.
“Boring in the most beautiful way,” Sabins added. “Shoving all season, collecting wins and sending us to Super Regionals — that’s not boring.”
The strong start fed a loud, already frenzied environment. Cole then struck out the side in the second and third innings, the latter of which he faced three batters in.
“Guys were grounded for the most part. You don’t go up 3-0 unless you are grounded,” Sabins said.
Cal Poly’s comeback attempt began in the fourth. Dylan Kordic led off the inning with a solo home run, starting a rally that pulled the Mustangs within two. The Mustangs left runners at the corners in that inning, and when they returned in the fifth, the contest had shifted further away.
Six of West Virginia’s first seven batters reached to start the home half of the fourth, including a run-scoring single from Brodie Kresser. After Ben Lumsden worked a walk to load the bases, Tyrus Hall hit a grand slam to right, leaving Cal Poly facing a seven-run deficit.
“Coming up in that scenario, the first thing is I hear all the fans,” Hall said. “Having that support is actually crazy. It was great to have it. It was a 2-0 count, and I was looking dead red for a pitch to drive.”
Cole’s bid for a shutout ended when Kordic took his first swing of the day into the stands. but West Virginia kept the pressure on. Cal Poly starting pitcher Griffin Naess was lifted after allowing eight runs on six hits with three walks over 3.2 innings. Naess hadn’t allowed more than five runs in any outing this season before Friday. and he entered with a team-high 87.2 innings pitched.
After the big early swing, Cal Poly coach Larry Lee pointed to what his team needed to do—keep West Virginia from extending and then find a way to win late.
“They had three innings with at least three runs. You have to keep them to one, so you’re in the game and can shorten the game, and try to figure out how to win in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings,” Lee said.
West Virginia didn’t add to its lead in the fifth, even after loading the bases with no outs. Cole struck out the first two batters and retired the side in the sixth.
Cal Poly managed three singles over four at-bats in the seventh. The Mustangs scored their second run on one by Alejandro Garza, and Cole retired Kordic for the first time over his first three plate appearances to end the inning with WVU up six.
West Virginia put the game further out of reach with another big seventh inning. Lumsden drove in two with a bases loaded double. and Hall followed with a fly ball to shallow right that was caught in foul territory—long enough for Kresser to score from third. Kresser later worked a bases loaded walk in the eighth for what proved to be the final run.
West Virginia finished with 58 runs across NCAA Tournament games, including at least six runs in every contest. Of the Mountaineers’ 14 hits, seven went for extra bases.
“The biggest piece of hitting without a doubt is confidence,” Sabins said.
Reese Bassinger and Carson Estridge each pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
With the series opener secured, the Mountaineers now need one more win to set a new single-season program mark for victories and to earn their first appearance in the College World Series. West Virginia looks to finish off the Super Regional at noon Saturday.
Sabins said he hadn’t yet settled on a Game 2 pitching plan, though every healthy pitcher on the staff figures to be available with the exception of Cole.
“Usually my theory is go win the game in front of you. We have enough quality pitching and depth to not save guys,” Sabins said. “I’m all about attack the day in front of you.”
West Virginia Mountaineers Cal Poly Mustangs Super Regional Chansen Cole Sean Smith Kendrick Family Ballpark NCAA Tournament baseball
11 strikeouts… that’s insane. WVU actually looked legit for once.
So he’s from Division II? Doesn’t that mean he’s basically a new guy? Still somehow throws like that and Cal Poly only got 2 runs?? I feel like the other team must’ve choked.
Wait did they say 12-2 or 12-? because my feed cut off. But if it was 12-2 then that coach quote “stay concentrated and win the next one” sounds like generic stuff lol. Transfer from Newberry too… so like, is this a college cheat code or what.
Boring person?? That was the headline part I saw and I’m like what does that even mean. He threw on short rest vs Kentucky with only two walks but still 11 K’s here?? Idk pitchers are wild. Also 83 pitches for strikes sounds made up, like who counts that mid-game.