West Virginia baseball is different now. The 2026 season marks the second year under head coach Steve Sabins, and honestly, the pressure is on after that massive 44-win run last year. If you're looking for the West Virginia Mountaineers baseball schedule, you’ve probably noticed it’s a bit of a marathon this time around.
The Mountaineers are jumping into their 135th year of play. They aren't easing into it, either. The season kicks off on February 13, 2026, with a three-game road trip down to Statesboro to face Georgia Southern.
It’s a long way from the snowy banks of the Monongahela.
Early Road Grinds and the Home Opener
February is basically a month-long road trip for these guys. After Georgia Southern, they head straight to Lynchburg to deal with Liberty from February 20–22. Coaches always talk about "building character" on the road, but let's be real—it's mostly about finding better weather than Morgantown can offer in mid-February.
The wait for home baseball finally ends on February 24, 2026. Canisius comes to town for a Tuesday afternoon matchup at Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark. It’s the third year in a row the Mountaineers have managed to squeeze in a home game before March.
Basically, bring a heavy coat and a blanket.
Following that brief home appearance, it's back to the Peach State for a series against Kennesaw State from February 27 to March 1. The Owls and Mountaineers are becoming familiar foes after playing last season, too.
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The March Homestand and Big 12 Gauntlet
Once March hits, the schedule settles into a nice rhythm at home. There’s a six-game stretch starting March 3 that fans should circle.
- Radford: A double midweek (March 3-4).
- Columbia: The defending Ivy League champs arrive for the first weekend series in Morgantown (March 6-8).
- Maryland: A spicy midweek rivalry game on March 10.
Then things get serious. Big 12 play starts March 13 with a flight to Waco to take on Baylor.
One of the weirdest quirks of the 2026 Big 12 schedule involves BYU. Because of their school policy, they don't play on Sundays. That means the home series against the Cougars (March 19-21) runs Thursday through Saturday. If you're planning to head to the ballpark, don't show up on Sunday afternoon expecting a game. You'll just find an empty stadium.
The Arizona Swing
Near the end of March, the Mountaineers are heading way out west. We're talking first-time-in-program-history territory. They play Arizona State in Tempe from March 27–29.
Immediately after that, they drive down to Tucson for a midweek game against the Arizona Wildcats on March 31. It’s a brutal travel stretch, but it's the kind of high-profile non-conference scheduling that helps with RPI when June rolls around.
Key Rivalries and Neutral Sites
You can't talk about the West Virginia Mountaineers baseball schedule without mentioning the Backyard Brawl. This year, the lone edition of the brawl against Pitt happens on Tuesday, April 21, right in Morgantown.
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There’s also the "state championship" unofficial series against Marshall. They play three times in three different cities:
- March 24: Away at Jack Cook Field in Huntington.
- April 7: Home at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
- May 5: Neutral site at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
Speaking of neutral sites, mark your calendars for April 15. The Mountaineers are meeting Penn State at Meritus Park in Hagerstown, Maryland. It’s a cool way to reach fans in the Eastern Panhandle and the DMV area without making them drive three hours to Morgantown.
The Final Push for Omaha
The regular season wraps up at home for the second year in a row. TCU comes to town for a Thursday-Saturday series from May 14–16.
If Sabins has this team playing like they did in 2025, those games will have massive implications for the Big 12 standings. Remember, the Big 12 is huge now. Each team only plays 10 of the 13 possible conference opponents. This year, WVU misses out on teams like Oklahoma State and Utah in the regular season, which makes every game against the teams they do play that much more vital.
Important Dates to Remember
- February 13: Season Opener at Georgia Southern.
- February 24: Home Opener vs. Canisius.
- March 13: Big 12 Opener at Baylor.
- April 21: The Backyard Brawl (Home).
- May 14-16: Final regular season series vs. TCU.
The 2026 Big 12 Baseball Tournament is also moving. It’s heading to Surprise Stadium in Arizona—the spring training home of the Royals and Rangers. The top 12 teams make the cut.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're planning to follow the Mountaineers this spring, here is how to handle it:
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Check the Start Times: Baseball is notorious for mid-game shifts. Midweek games in Morgantown often start at 2:00 PM or 3:00 PM early in the season to beat the sunset, then move to 6:30 PM as the days get longer. Always double-check the official WVU sports site 24 hours before first pitch.
Grab the ESPN+ Subscription: Most Big 12 games, including the road trips to Texas Tech and Kansas, will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. It’s the only way to see the away games without spending a fortune on gas.
Dress for the Elements: Kendrick Family Ballpark is beautiful, but it sits right on the river. The wind coming off the water in March is no joke. Even if it feels like 50 degrees in town, it’ll feel like 40 at the park.
Plan the Charleston Trip: The May 5 game against Marshall in Charleston usually has a great atmosphere. Tickets for GoMart Ballpark sell out faster than the home games in Morgantown, so keep an eye on the Marshall or WVU ticket offices in early April.
The 2026 season is a massive test for the "post-Mazey" era. With Steve Sabins at the helm and a roster that now expects to win the Big 12 every year, the schedule is designed to prepare them for another deep postseason run. Get your tickets early; this team isn't a secret anymore.