MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University baseball team welcomes Baylor to Morgantown for a three-game, Big 12 Conference series from April 8-10, at Wagener Field at Monongalia County Ballpark.
 
Due to potential inclement weather later in the evening, first pitch of Friday's series opener has been moved up to 5 p.m. ET, while Saturday and Sunday's games will begin at 4 p.m., and 1 p.m., respectively. Friday's matchup was originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
Tickets to all three games are still available at WVUGAME.com, by calling 1-800-WVU GAME, at the Mountaineer Ticket Office inside the WVU Coliseum or on game day at the ballpark's box office. Fans who have tickets to Friday's contest who are unable to attend the game at its new time can exchange for tickets to a future home game this season at Gate A of Monongalia County Ballpark, the Mountaineer Ticket Office or by calling 1-800-WVU-GAME.
 
Those at the ballpark can enjoy Friday Night Happy Hour, with half-off beverages from 4-5 p.m., prior to the series opener, and play Baseball Bingo with a chance to win prizes. Saturday is Family Day, featuring four tickets and a $10 concession voucher for just $25, as well as a mini-bat giveaway for the first 500 fans. Sunday is Kids' Day, which features a Kids Zone, inflatables (weather pending) and Mr. Twister, the balloon animal artist. Kids also can run the bases and grab autographs from the team after the game and receive the first two sets of trading cards of the 2022 Mountaineers.
 
Saturday's game also is Alumni Day at the ballpark. Additionally, a special pregame, field dedication ceremony with Rick and Jay Wagener will be held prior to first pitch at approximately 3:40 p.m.
 
Live stats of each game can be found on WVUsports.com. All three games will air live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and can be heard on the Mountaineer Sports Network on 100.9 WZST-FM, as well as various affiliates throughout the state, the WVU Gameday App and WVUsports.com.
 
Junior right-handed pitcher Jacob Watters (2-1, 2.08 ERA) gets the ball for the Mountaineers on Friday night, while Baylor counters with left-hander Tyler Thomas (4-3, 1.59 ERA). On Saturday, sophomore left-hander Ben Hampton (4-2, 3.14 ERA) toes the rubber against left-hander Kobe Andrade (2-0, 2.52 ERA) of the Bears, while fifth-year senior right-hander Zach Bravo (3-0, 4.13 ERA) battles Baylor's right-hander Will Rigney (2-0, 4.40 ERA) on Sunday.
 
WVU (17-10, 2-1 Big 12) is 11-14 all-time against Baylor. BU took two of three games in last year's series from April 9-11, 2021, in Waco. Of note, the Bears haven't played a game in Morgantown since May 19, 2018.
 
Last time out, the Mountaineers earned their 100th victory at Monongalia County Ballpark with a 17-8 win over Marshall on April 6. WVU trailed, 4-0, before scoring 17 runs in a row at one point.
 
West Virginia used three, big innings to help in the win, scoring seven runs in the fourth, six in the seventh and three in the eighth. Senior right-hander Zach Ottinger, who was one of 10 WVU pitchers used in the game, earned the win, his first of the year. At the plate, freshman infielder JJ Wetherholt went 4-for-5 with three RBI, while senior outfielder Austin Davis had a three-hit day with three runs scored and two RBI.
 
With the win, WVU has now won 12 of the last 13 meetings over the Thundering Herd. West Virginia also extended its midweek, home win streak to 22 games, dating back to April 3, 2017.
 
WVU enters the weekend ranked No. 2 nationally and No. 1 in the Big 12 in stolen bases, with 99. The Mountaineers have only recorded 100 stolen bases in a season once in program history (114 in 1986).
 
Earlier this week, fifth-year senior right-hander Trey Braithwaite was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week. The Winchester, Virginia, native earned the win on the mound in last weekend's series opener at then-No. 10 TCU and returned to record the save in the rubber match. He sent down all 11 hitters he faced to slam the door in the finale.
 
Saturday's game is set to be coach Randy Mazey's 500th at West Virginia. Mazey is 280-218 with the Mountaineers since taking over in 2013.
 
Baylor is led by seventh-year coach Steve Rodriguez, who has the Bears out to a 16-12 start to the season. BU also is 2-4 in Big 12 play, with series losses against TCU and at Oklahoma.
 
The squad swept ETSU last weekend and is coming off an 11-6 loss at No. 24 Dallas Baptist on April 5.
 
Tre Richardson leads the Bears offensively with a .313 average, while Jack Pineda also is a tick above the .300 line. Kyle Nevin's four home runs and 27 RBI pace the team in those categories.
 
On the mound, Thomas has just a 1.69 ERA in 45.1 innings this spring. He has fanned 44 batters and allowed just seven walks. Elsewhere, right-hander Mason Marriott has five saves out of the bullpen.
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.