The Big 12 Championship delivered a dramatic showdown on Saturday, with West Virginia emerging as champions after a 4-2 victory over Kansas State. The Mountaineers built an early lead and held off a late rally to claim the title in front of a roaring crowd.
Key Moments in the Championship Game
Pitcher Maxx Yehl, the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, stymied K-State's offense through six innings, allowing just four hits while striking out eight batters. His performance set the tone for the Mountaineers' pitching staff.
West Virginia opened the scoring with a solo homer from Gavin Kelly, giving the team an early 1-0 advantage. The Mountaineers extended their lead in the sixth inning, plating three runs to push the score to 4-0.
K-State's Grant Gallagher cut the deficit in the seventh inning with a solo homer, narrowing the gap to 4-2. The Wildcats' offense showed resilience, but the Mountaineers' bullpen was ready to shut the door.
Relief pitcher Ian Korn earned the save, striking out five batters over 2.2 innings, while Miles Smith held the Mountaineer offense scoreless on a single hit with two strikeouts in his own 2.2 innings.
The victory improved West Virginia's record to 38-13 and solidified their ninth‑national ranking, while K-State finished the 2026 season with a 30-27 record. The game featured standout performances from players such as Lincoln Sheffield, Shintaro Inoue, Kyan Lodice, AJ Evasco, and Madliak, all of whom contributed to the high‑stakes contest.