The 2026 NCAA baseball super regional round opened with a burst of power hitting, as West Virginia, USC and Troy each took a 1‑0 series lead by crushing grand slams in their first games.
Opening Slams
West Virginia’s Mountaineers surged past Cal Poly 12‑2, a performance that featured a grand slam and timely contributions from Judd Utermark and Collin Reuter, who helped drive the offense.
USC answered back against North Carolina, where Dean Carpentier’s sixth‑inning grand slam sparked a 9‑5 victory, underscoring the Trojans’ resilience.
Troy, not to be outdone, posted a 12‑2 win over Little Rock, highlighted by Jabe Boroff’s two homers that added depth to the lineup.
Ole Miss Momentum
Ole Miss edged Auburn 6‑4, spreading four runs across the fifth and sixth innings; the Rebels leaned on Tyrus Hall and Chansen Cole to maintain the edge.
All eight super regional matchups are slated for Saturday, and the Mountaineers, Trojans and Rebels each need one more win to reach the College World Series.
Auburn, the second‑highest seeded team still in the bracket, will attempt to rally from behind for the second straight weekend, adding a narrative of perseverance.