Regional Thriller in Morgantown
The Mountaineers clinched the Morgantown Regional with a dramatic 6‑5 victory over Kentucky, forcing the game into extra innings before Armani Guzman delivered a walk‑off single that scored graduate student Brodie Kresser. The win not only extended their season but also underscored the electric atmosphere that has become a hallmark of West Virginia baseball.
Sophomore Gavin Kelly emerged as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, batting .400 with three home runs and eight RBI across five games. His performance capped a week in which the team combined power, precision, and clutch hitting to outlast a resilient Kentucky squad.
West Virginia’s pitching staff also shone, with Maxx Yehl tossing five innings of one‑run baseball and striking out six, while Chansen Cole contributed 1.2 scoreless frames and Dawson Montesa sealed the win with two-thirds of an inning and a strikeout. Ian Korn’s two shutout innings kept the game within reach before Kentucky’s late rally.
The offensive onslaught was a team effort. Paul Schoenfeld drove in runs with timely singles, Matthew Graveline added a double that plated a run, and Hudson Brown’s solo homer gave Kentucky a brief lead in the fourth. The Mountaineers answered with two runs in the fifth, highlighted by Schoenfeld’s RBI single and Graveline’s clutch double.
Coach Steve Sabins praised the collective effort, noting that the region’s intensity reflected the broader excitement surrounding college baseball in West Virginia. ‘The guys played with heart and resilience,’ Sabins said, emphasizing the program’s growing momentum as they look ahead.
Following the regional triumph, the team will travel to face Cal Poly in the NCAA Super Regionals. Ticket and parking information will be released in the coming days, with allocations expected by Wednesday afternoon. The upcoming series promises another high‑stakes matchup for the Mountaineers, who remain focused on extending their season.