GRANVILLE — West Virginia’s pitching played a major part in the Mountaineers success in being able to host a super regional. Whether it was ace Maxx Yehl coming back off an injury, Chansen Cole dominating on Day 1, Ian Korn making Game 2 competitive, or Dawson Montesa’s electricity all weekend, the pitching staff showed why it was one of the best in the Big 12 this year.

In order to keep the season alive, WVU had to throw the kitchen sink on Monday night. Yehl threw 67 pitches and five innings in the regional final to start it off. Then, Ian Korn, one of WVU’s top relievers and potential starter, threw 51 pitches and went two innings. Cole, who pitched seven innings and threw 94 pitches in Game 1, pitched almost two innings and threw 36 pitches. Dawson Montesa came in the game to close it out after throwing 122 pitches the night before. He only pitched two outs, but still, that’s a lot of fatigue in a small amount of time.

In an elimination bracket, it’s anyone and everyone, no matter the rest, especially if it’s a matter of the season ending.

“When playoffs come, you just have to flip,” pitcher Reese Bassinger said. “You’re not trying to save anything for any game, like in a weekend series where you’re guaranteed three games. It’s like you understand you’re trying to win, but also trying to make sure you’re ready for the next game. But, in the playoffs, it’s every game you’re available.”

Less than four days after the all-hands-on-deck game, since the game is at noon, a WVU pitcher will have to walk out to the mound against a hot Cal Poly team in the super regional. That’s not a lot of time to rest between outings. Usually, WVU and Steve Sabins give the pitchers a week’s rest before pitching. That’s not possible with the quick turnaround.

Sabins said on a short week, it’s all about communicating with his players to make sure their arms are healthy enough to throw.

“You’re using your eyes, and how the ball is coming out,” Sabins said. “We needed to train and we needed to prepare and get better, but we also needed to recover. That was important this week.”

It becomes a lot easier to plan who will start because it’s a three-game series rather than a regional. In a regional, it’s a different opponent every game and most are elimination games. You know what time you are playing each day and the team you’re facing. It’s about winning the series rather than a single game.

“When you have a series to win, you can manage it a little bit differently,” Sabins said. “Not that that has to be beneficial, but you can look at it a little bit different way, so we’re considering all angles.”

Sabins announced that, like in the regional, Cole will start Game 1. From there, it’s to be determined who starts the next game or the third if necessary. Yehl, Montesa and Korn are all options to start. Sabins said the remaining two starts will be based on what happens Friday afternoon.

“I think the situation: win, lose, draw, how many innings, who you need to use in order to win the game is important,” Sabins said.

Obviously, WVU won’t be playing for a third game. The Mountaineers are going to try to do whatever they can to win the first game. If Cole’s in a bind, WVU isn’t afraid to throw some of its top relievers, like Bassinger and Korn.

And if it does go to a Game 3, it won’t matter how many pitches you’ve thrown in the game before. Everyone will be an option.

“Whatever game we play, it might be my last game ever,” Bassinger said. “I’m not gonna let my arm being a little tired let (Matt Ineich) play his last game with the boys just because I’m a little tired. That’s not how this works. Just being ready to go every single day for the guys.”