The West Virginia Mountaineers entered the Morgantown regional facing a familiar opponent, the Kentucky Wildcats, with a Game Seven berth on the line and the atmosphere electric.
A Ninth-Inning Turnaround
The Mountaineers trailed 9-6 heading into the final frame, but a burst of aggression turned the tide. Brodie Kresser ignited the rally with an RBI single to centerfield that put West Virginia up 3-0 earlier, and the momentum carried forward as the team mounted a five-run explosion.
Kentucky’s starter Ben Cleaver, who had been solid through 14 starts, unraveled in the ninth, allowing the Mountaineers to seize an 11-9 advantage after Paul Schoenfeld’s two-run homer cleared the bases.
Looking Ahead
The two squads will meet again on Monday, this time with a spot in the Super Regionals on the line, promising another high-stakes contest. The upcoming trip will test both teams’ depth and resilience.
The Mountaineers' roster that day featured Armani Guzman, Sean Smith, Matthew Graveline, Brodie Kresser, David Hagan, Braxton Van Cleave, Jayce Tharnish, Tyler Bell, Luke Lawrence, Tyrus Hall, Ethan Hindle, Carson Hansen, Joshua Suriagao, Carson Estridge, Ben McDougal, and Paul Schoenfeld, underscoring the depth that fueled the comeback.