WVU Shuts Down Liberty, Starts Season 5-0

Mountaineers defeat Flames 2-0 in pitcher's duel

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

West Virginia University's baseball team defeated Liberty University 2-0 in a pitchers' duel at Worthington Field in Lynchburg, Virginia. WVU southpaw Maxx Yehl earned the win, pitching four innings with six strikeouts and allowing just one hit. Liberty's Jaxon Lucas threw five effective innings but took the loss, allowing two earned runs. WVU's Sean Smith drove in the game's only RBI with a double in the fifth inning.

Why it matters

The win keeps WVU undefeated at 5-0 to start the 2026 season, building momentum for the Mountaineers as they look to make a push in the Big 12 Conference. Liberty, a rising program, was unable to capitalize on its home field advantage against the visiting Mountaineers.

The details

In a tight, low-scoring affair, WVU's pitching staff held Liberty in check throughout the game. Yehl was dominant on the mound for the Mountaineers, while Lucas kept the Liberty offense at bay for most of his outing. WVU broke through in the fifth inning when Smith's RBI double scored Paul Schoenfeld, and they added an insurance run in the sixth when Gavin Kelly scored on a double play. The Mountaineers' bullpen closed out the game, with David Perez earning the save with two strikeouts in the ninth inning.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
  • Yehl made it through just two innings in his previous start last week before this outing.

The players

Maxx Yehl

The WVU southpaw earned the win, pitching four innings with six strikeouts and allowing just one hit.

Jaxon Lucas

The Liberty right-handed pitcher started the game and threw five effective innings, allowing two earned runs.

Sean Smith

The WVU designated hitter drove in the game's only RBI with a double in the fifth inning.

David Perez

The WVU true freshman right-handed pitcher earned the save, striking out two batters in the ninth inning.

Paul Schoenfeld

The WVU left fielder scored the game's first run after leading off the fifth inning with a double.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This was a big win for us to start the season 5-0. Our pitching staff really stepped up and kept us in the game, and we were able to capitalize on a couple key opportunities at the plate.”

— Maxx Yehl, WVU Pitcher (on3.com)

What’s next

WVU and Liberty will play the second game of their doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

The takeaway

WVU's strong start to the 2026 season, led by its pitching staff, has the Mountaineers positioned well as they look to make a run in the competitive Big 12 Conference. Meanwhile, Liberty will need to regroup after being shut down by the Mountaineers' arms.