ESPN Report: Kevin Dowdell announcement that he is leaving WVU now another significant issue for team……

West Virginia’s bats were on fire in Kansas this weekend, smashing 10 homers as the Mountaineers won its third Big 12 series of the season over the Jayhawks. Next week, though, they have a big test when they welcome the biggest bats in the league to the Mon’ in the struggling — but still formidable — Texas Longhorns. Will West Virginia take the ‘Horns down, just like they’ve done throughout their time in the Big 12? Ryan Decker and Sam Coniglio take you through WVU’s exciting three-game series against KU, then look ahead to what is sure to be a fireworks display at a packed house in Morgantown to start May. Subscribe on your preferred podcast platform to have future episodes delivered to you. Gold and Blue Nation is the local leader for Mountaineer sports news, producing comprehensive coverage on TV and online. Download the free Gold and Blue Nation app via your preferred app store so you’re never more than a touch away from our WVU sports reporting, highlights and archived shows.

Kevin Dowdell has worn many hats for West Virginia in 2022.

Often, he is in the dugout keeping morale high, shouting to his teammates and tossing baseballs around to keep energy up. Other times, he gets the call from skipper Randy Mazey to pitch some key innings in relief late in games.

But on Wednesday night, he wore a cowboy hat emblazoned with “American badass” after hitting a game-tying home run into the Monongalia County Ballpark parking lot — his first plate appearance since April 17.