Cole Named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week
May 04, 2026 04:00 PM | Baseball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Sophomore pitcher Chansen Cole of the West Virginia University baseball team has been named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, as announced by the league on Monday.
Cole threw a complete game on Saturday against Kansas State, striking out nine in a 9-1 win over the Wildcats. He allowed just the one run on only five hits against a top 20 offense in the nation. The Boiling Springs, S.C. native is currently 8-1 this season with a 2.64 ERA in 64.2 innings. His eight victories lead the Big 12 and are eighth in the nation.
It is the third time that a Mountaineer has earned Newcomer of the Week this year after Dawson Montesa on March 2 and Sean Smith on April 13. It is the 22nd time a Mountaineer has been named Newcomer of the Week as Cole becomes the 20th different WVU player to earn the honor.
Overall, it is the fifth time a WVU player has taken home a Big 12 weekly honor in 2026 as Gavin Kelly and Maxx Yehl earned Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, earlier this season. The five different players earning Big 12 weekly honors is the most since seven players earned awards in 2016.
Cole and the Mountaineers will be back on the field on Tuesday, May 5, against Marshall from GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, W.Va. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Cole threw a complete game on Saturday against Kansas State, striking out nine in a 9-1 win over the Wildcats. He allowed just the one run on only five hits against a top 20 offense in the nation. The Boiling Springs, S.C. native is currently 8-1 this season with a 2.64 ERA in 64.2 innings. His eight victories lead the Big 12 and are eighth in the nation.
It is the third time that a Mountaineer has earned Newcomer of the Week this year after Dawson Montesa on March 2 and Sean Smith on April 13. It is the 22nd time a Mountaineer has been named Newcomer of the Week as Cole becomes the 20th different WVU player to earn the honor.
Overall, it is the fifth time a WVU player has taken home a Big 12 weekly honor in 2026 as Gavin Kelly and Maxx Yehl earned Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, earlier this season. The five different players earning Big 12 weekly honors is the most since seven players earned awards in 2016.
Cole and the Mountaineers will be back on the field on Tuesday, May 5, against Marshall from GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, W.Va. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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