A Dominant Shutout
West Virginia University’s baseball squad erupted for a 12‑0 win over the Troy Trojans in the College World Series, a performance that kept their tournament life on the line.
The Mountaineers’ pitching staff delivered a combined shutout, with starter Dawson Montesa tossing 5.1 scoreless innings before handing the ball to relievers Ben McDougal, Carson Estridge and Reese Bassinger, who closed the game with five strikeouts in two frames.
Offensively, the lineup never slowed. Gavin Kelly opened the scoring with a leadoff single in the third, and Matthew Graveline followed with a double that plated Kelly and came around on a wild pitch. Tyrus Hall and Armani Guzman drew two‑out walks in the sixth, setting the stage for Kelly’s three‑run blast that stretched the lead to 6‑0.
The rally continued as Sean Smith and Ben Lumsden added RBI singles, and Guzman capped the night with a two‑run double in the ninth, sealing the 12‑0 final margin.
Looking Ahead to North Carolina
WVU now turns its attention to a rematch with North Carolina, a team that edged the Mountaineers 5‑2 just three days earlier. The upcoming elimination game on June 17 will determine which side advances to the next round of the tournament.
Coach Mike Pearson praised the collective effort, noting that the blend of solid pitching, timely hitting and disciplined defense gave the team a “must‑win” identity. “We’re not just playing for a win; we’re playing for momentum,” he said after the Troy victory.
The Mountaineers will rely on the same core group of players — Montesa, McDougal, Estridge, Bassinger, Kelly, Graveline, Hall, Guzman, Smith and Lumsden — to carry the momentum forward as they chase a berth in the championship series.