West Virginia University’s baseball team etched a milestone into its history on June 12, securing its first-ever victory in the College World Series with a 7‑5 triumph over the Troy Trojans. The Mountaineers struck first, taking a 1‑0 lead in the opening inning after a daring steal of home plate by Armani Guzman, who rewrote the program record books with a straight‑steal of home.
A Night of Firsts for the Mountaineers
Tyrus Hall followed with a two‑run single in the eighth, but the early advantage slipped when Chansen Cole surrendered a run in the third, allowing Troy to answer with an RBI single. Ian Korn stepped onto the mound and delivered six solid innings of one‑run baseball, keeping the game within reach.
Sean Smith’s solo homer in the bottom of the third tied the contest at 4‑4, and later Jimmy Janicki’s two‑out, two‑strike blast gave Troy a brief spark, though it was short‑lived. The Mountaineers’ bullpen tightened, and the game remained tightly contested heading into the later innings.
A rally in the eighth inning turned the tide. Consecutive singles by Matt Ineich and Brodie Kresser set the stage, and Hall’s clutch hitting produced two more RBIs, pushing the lead to 7‑5. Korn closed out the ninth, retiring the first two batters before a walk forced a final out recorded by Ben McDougal on a Janicki foul.
The win propels WVU into the winners’ bracket, where they are slated to meet the victor of the North Carolina versus Ole Miss matchup on Sunday, June 14. The performance not only highlighted individual heroics but also underscored the team’s resilience and depth.