MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University baseball team is heading to the NCAA Super Regionals for the third year in a row! They secured their spot with a thrilling 6-5 victory over Kentucky in ten innings on Monday night at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
Armani Guzman delivered the winning moment with a walk-off single, scoring Brodie Kresser. Guzman had a fantastic regional, hitting .455 with four doubles and seven RBI. Gavin Kelly, who was named Tournament MVP, impressed with a .400 batting average, three home runs, and a total of eight RBI across five games.
The Mountaineers will host Cal Poly in the Super Regionals. The specific schedule will be shared via press release and social media tomorrow morning.
Head coach Steve Sabins expressed his joy, noting, “It was a beautiful week of baseball. Spending time with these kids is the goal. There’s way too many standout moments to focus on just one player. This region has shown it is the best college baseball atmosphere in the country.”
Guzman ended the game with three hits, while Kelly contributed two hits and scored three runs. Senior Paul Schoenfeld also shone with two hits and two RBI.
On the pitching side, Maxx Yehl bounced back with 5.0 innings of strong performance, giving up just one run and striking out six. Chansen Cole and Dawson Montesa also played crucial roles in keeping Kentucky at bay.
The game saw some back-and-forth action. West Virginia took an early lead with Kelly scoring on a dropped third strike. Then, in the fifth inning, Schoenfeld and Matthew Graveline drove in runs, extending their lead to 5-1.
Kentucky staged a comeback in the eighth, tying the game with two home runs following a couple of singles.
The final moments of the game were tense. Kresser started the 10th off with a single, followed by a walk from Ben Lumsden. Guzman’s clutch hit ended the suspense as Kresser scored, sending the Mountaineers to the Super Regionals.
Kelly, Guzman, Lumsden, Cole, Montesa, and Tyrus Hall earned spots on the All-Tournament Team.
In recent trends, college baseball has drawn more attention on social media, with fans sharing their experiences and game highlights. The excitement around these tournaments showcases the growing enthusiasm for college sports, a trend supported by a recent survey indicating that 72% of college students plan to attend sporting events.
As the Mountaineers prepare for the Super Regionals, it’s clear that their passion and teamwork have turned this season into something extraordinary. For up-to-date information, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
