GRANVILLE — There is a unique energy that comes with West Virginia’s leadoff man Austin Davis.
To get a full grasp of what Davis means to the Mountaineers, it almost has to be seen in person rather than reading about in print.
“He’s an awesome player to watch and he’s the heart of the team,” is how WVU left fielder Braden Barry tried to describe Davis after the Mountaineers pulled off a sweep of Baylor on Sunday with a 7-5 victory inside Mon County Ballpark. “He’s always making great plays. You never know what he’s going to do when he steps on the field. You literally have no idea.”
It was the Mountaineers (20-10, 5-1 Big 12) first Big 12 sweep since May of 2016 against Texas.
It would be easy to say there is a good, a bad and an ugly that comes with Davis’ game, but maybe even that cliche doesn’t cover it all.
Because there is also a great, a head-scratcher and a did-that-just-happen that goes along with his game, too.
“He could make a diving catch or dance his way around the bases after hitting a home run,” Barry continued. “He’s just an exciting player to watch.”
The dancing actually happened Sunday, as Davis lofted a home run over the left field fence, one of his three hits — he was a triple short of hitting for the cycle — and the solo shot appeared to come with Davis basically swinging with one hand.
“To be honest, I don’t remember,” he said afterward. “I guess I ate my Wheaties this morning.”
What he and his teammates and coaches will remember about this series is how Davis could be great one moment, make a gigantic mistake the next, only to make up for it with a tremendous play on defense or by getting on base 11 times and scoring seven runs in the series against the Bears (16-15, 2-7).
It could have been eight runs scored, maybe more, and that’s the other side that comes with Davis’ style of play.
He missed home plate Friday night on a sacrifice fly and was ruled out in what was a late-inning comeback 7-6 victory by WVU, which has now won five straight.
He was also picked off from second base on Sunday, while trying to play mind games with Baylor pitcher Mason Marriott.
Some guys would let those kinds of moments crush them mentally, but Davis is far from being one of those guys.
“It’s a mindset that you just have to flush those things,” he said. “Baseball is such a mental game. It’s actually a game of failure, but at the same time, why think failure? Just be ready for the next play.”
And here’s what Davis was able to do on those next plays: He got eight hits, including the home run and a double in the three wins against Baylor.
He added a diving stop out in right field on Saturday that turned an easy triple into a single and he added his 19th stolen base of the season, which is second among Big 12 players.
If he only referred to himself in the third person during interviews, Davis would be the college version of Rickey Henderson.
“He’s a high energy, play-to-the-crowd type of player,” WVU head coach Randy Mazey said. “He used to direct all of that great energy toward the other team and the other team’s dugout. We got him out of that.
“Now, he’s directing that energy to the crowd and getting the crowd fired up. Then he misses home plate and you try to get him out of that. Today, all of his energy was to his teammates. When he does that, he’s a special player. He’s the worth the price of a season ticket just to watch him play.”
Davis’ offense has truly been special lately. Coming out of the TCU series last weekend, his batting average was sitting at .269.
Over the three wins against Baylor and a weekday win against Marshall, Davis raised his average a hefty 54 points to .323.
“He’s a great hitter and a great outfielder,” Mazey said. “He makes some unbelievable plays defensively. He had a big homer today.
“I love watching him play.”
Chris Sleeper picked up the win in relief and WVU’s bullpen gave up just three runs over the series. Trey Braithwaite earned his third save.
Victor Scott II, McGwire Holbrook and Barry all had two hits on Sunday.
WVU travels to Penn State at 6 p.m. Tuesday, before hosting No. 7 Oklahoma State for a three-game series beginning Friday.
TWEET @bigjax3211
