WVU Mountaineer Sports: Basketball | Football | News |Team Opens Practice

The WVU baseball team will open its 2012 season with its first official practice on Friday, Jan. 27, at the Caperton Indoor Facility. Practice will begin at 4 p.m.

"It's always an exciting time of the year because that's what we do. We love to get the team started and the first day of practice is a big day to get the troops out there and get them moving around." 18-year coach Greg Van Zant says. "We have a lot of work to do in three weeks to get ready to play. We having major teaching to do, review from the fall and also get the guys physically strong to where they can go out and play."

WVU returns to action after finishing with a 28-27 record last season, including a 14-13 mark in BIG EAST play and a trip to the BIG EAST Championship in Clearwater, Fla.

Junior outfielder Brady Wilson will be one of the leaders at the plate this season for WVU. Wilson finished 2011 with a .330 batting average, 45 runs, eight doubles, 27 RBIs and a team leading 12 stolen bases.

Other returning starters include outfielder Matt Frazer, catcher Matt Malloy, first baseman Ryan McBroom and outfielder Chris Rasky.

The Mountaineers return two pitchers who started games last season in sophomores Marshall Thompson and Corey Walter, as well as sophomore Ryan Tezak, the squad's top reliever in 2011.

Thompson started 11 games with a 4.88 ERA and two complete games. In 66.1 innings pitched, Thompson allowed 36 earned runs and tied for the team lead with 48 strikeouts. Walter started four games with one complete game and a 4.75 ERA. Tezak pitched in 16 games with a 3.81 ERA and a 2-2 record to go along with four saves. Tezak led all relievers with 30 strikeouts.

The Mountaineers open their season at the fourth annual Big Ten/Big EAST Challenge, hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, Feb. 17-19. The Mountaineers will open the season against Northwestern on Friday, Feb. 17, in St. Petersburg, Fla., at 10 a.m.