West Virginia’s Jack Kartsonas had his initial start of the 2025 season on Sunday, delivering seven scoreless innings as the Mountaineers triumphed over Houston 11-4, completing the three-game sweep against the Cougars. Since Big 12 play began, the Mountaineers have had difficulty achieving consistency from their three weekend starters. Kartsonas, who has typically filled longer relief positions, was provided the chance to start and he seized the opportunity. West Virginia scored in the first inning, which was sufficient for the right-hander who made the transition to play for WVU from Kent State during the recent offseason. The Mountaineers tallied two runs in the first inning, as Kyle West hit a 381-foot home run to right field, his fourth of the year, putting West Virginia ahead 2-0. Kartsonas quickly found his rhythm, retiring the side in only nine pitches. Kartsonas didn’t permit a hit until the third inning, effortlessly handling a leadoff single, but encountered more difficulties in the fourth. An infield single and a walk placed runners on first and second for Houston before Brodie Kresser made a sliding play to his right at shortstop, securing the force out at third base to end the inning and leave the Cougars scoreless. West Virginia’s offense secured another run in the third inning with a RBI groundout by Sam White, followed by two additional runs in the fourth. The runs were driven in by Logan Sauve, who launched his first of two home runs that day, a two-run blast reaching 441 feet, giving the Mountaineers a 5-0 lead. Aside from the fourth inning, Kartsonas managed to control the Cougars all afternoon. He permitted no baserunner during the fifth, sixth, or seventh innings, concluding his outing after the seventh. His last performance showed 7.0 innings pitched with 97 pitches thrown, giving up no runs on two hits, walking two batters, and striking out five. Once Kartsonas left, West Virginia benefited from an offensive boost, tallying four runs in the eighth inning. Chase Swain crossed the plate on a wild pitch, and Gavin Kelly took home after hitting a triple. Sauve would subsequently hit his second home run of the day, a 394-foot shot, giving WVU a 9-0 lead, marking the second time in his career that Sauve achieved a multi-home run game. Bryson Hoff entered the game to replace Kartsonas in the eighth inning, hitting the first batter he confronted, then walking the next one. That concluded his afternoon as Reese Bassinger entered the game with players on first and second with no outs. Bassinger struck out the initial batter he confronted before issuing a walk to the following one, filling the bases. The Cougars scored a run with a groundout before Bassinger finished the inning with yet another groundout. WVU tacked on two additional runs in the ninth as Kelly hit a single that brought in two more, increasing WVU’s advantage to 11-1. Bryant Yoak began the ninth inning for WVU but endured just two batters. Tyler Hutson entered to finish the series sweep for WVU, securing three outs but permitting three runs simultaneously. By securing the victory, West Virginia achieves their 30th win of the season. This marks the fourth consecutive season that WVU has achieved a minimum of 30 victories. They needed 49 games to achieve their 30th win last season, but this season they accomplished it in just 34 games. With this victory, West Virginia secures the top spot in the Big 12, extending their winning streak to 10 games.
The Mountaineers have shown steady improvement throughout the 2025 campaign, combining explosive offense with gradually stabilizing pitching. Logan Sauve’s standout performance with two home runs and three RBIs highlights his growing influence in WVU’s batting order, while Kyle West and Gavin Kelly continue to provide reliable support.
Kartsonas’s strong outing may now solidify his position in the weekend rotation, potentially reshaping WVU’s approach for the remainder of conference play. His ability to pitch deep into games will be critical as the Mountaineers prepare for upcoming matchups against high-caliber opponents in the Big 12.
Offensively, West Virginia showcased their depth with contributions from throughout the lineup. Kelly finished with three hits, while Sauve, West, and White each drove in key runs. The Mountaineers outscored Houston 32-10 over the three-game series, underscoring their dominance from both the mound and the batter’s box.
Defensively, WVU was equally sharp, committing no errors on Sunday and executing timely plays—none bigger than Kresser’s heads-up force at third in the fourth inning that kept Houston off the scoreboard in a crucial moment.
Looking ahead, the Mountaineers are set to face Texas Tech in a pivotal series that could further solidify their position at the top of the conference. With their current momentum and key players like Kartsonas and Sauve hitting stride, West Virginia appears well-equipped for the second half of the season.
For a program that continues to rise in national relevance, Sunday’s win was more than just a sweep—it was a statement. And with 30 wins already under their belt and postseason aspirations in sight, the Mountaineers are setting their sights even higher.
