West Virginia University’s baseball team moved into the Big 12 Championship after a 7‑3 victory over Arizona State in Surprise, Arizona, on May 22, 2024. The Mountaineers entered the contest as underdogs but quickly turned the tide with a late‑inning rally that left the crowd roaring.
The game began with Arizona State taking an early lead, as Dean Toigo’s triple and subsequent home run put the Sun Devils ahead. Yet the Mountaineers answered in the sixth inning when head coach Steve Sabins summoned left‑hander Joshua Surigao, and Nuu Contrades later scored on a wild pitch that shifted momentum.
Sixth‑Inning Surge
A flurry of hits followed, including a leadoff double by Sean Smith that set up Brodie Kresser’s RBI single. Later, Zahir Barjam’s pinch‑hit ground‑rule double and Armani Guzman’s run on a Kresser single capped a six‑run burst. Tyrus Hall’s daring steal and subsequent score sealed the 7‑3 lead.
Championship Outlook
With the final out recorded, attention now turns to a showdown against regular‑season champion Kansas, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on May 23. The Mountaineers will look to carry the energy from their Surprise performance into the championship stage, hoping the same clutch performances can translate into a conference title.