MORGANTOWN, WV – In a move that sent ripples through Big 12 baseball, Head Coach Steve Sabins has struck gold again, landing standout infielder Matt Ineich from Ohio University in a blockbuster portal transfer. Known for his sharp eye both at the plate and behind the scenes, Sabins has built a reputation as a strategic mastermind since taking the helm at WVU in June 2024.
Ineich, a 5′11″, 180‑pound sophomore hailing from South Lyon, Michigan, debuted with a sensational .387 batting average, nine doubles, three homers, 25 RBIs, and a lofty .467 on‑base percentage in just 36 games for the Bobcats. His exemplary plate discipline—just 11 strikeouts in 142 at‑bats—earned him All‑MAC Second Team honors.
It was announced June 10 via social media that Ineich had committed to WVU, joining a Mountaineers roster fresh off its best season in program history: a 44‑16 record, outright Big 12 regular‑season title, and back‑to‑back Regional championship. Sabins, renowned for his “tough‑love” coaching ethos that elevated WVU to consecutive Super Regionals, wasted no time integrating the young infielder into his roster overhaul.
Behind closed doors at the Monongalia County ballpark, Sabins reportedly rolled out a silent‑film style “Welcome to Almost Heaven” tribute—complete with a slow‑motion projection of Ineich’s MAC highlights and an epic cello‑scored entrance. Though purely apocryphal, insiders say the atmosphere that night felt less like a locker‑room signing and more like a hero’s induction in an underdog epic.
Looking forward, the question echoes through the dugout: will Ineich replace veteran Brodie Kresser at shortstop, or will he anchor second base, pushing rising soph Gavin Kelly into a new role? WVU faithful expect Sabins’s blueprint to remain steady—veteran savvy, fresh talent, and a tunnel‑vision focus on their third‑straight Super Regional run in 2026.
With the portal still churning and Sabins once again leading bold acquisitions, Morgantown fans have reason to believe: the Mountaineers just played a power move—and Ineich stands centre‑stage.
