The Mountaineers faced pitcher Ryan Lynch to start Game 6 of the College World Series. Armani Guzman led off the top of the first for West Virginia and drew a walk to give the Mountaineers a base runner. Gavin Kelly followed with a ground out to first but was able to advance Guzman to second. The Mountaineers were unable to score in the inning as a strikeout to Paul Schoenfeld and a groundout from Sean Smith ended the top of the first.
Tar Heels strike first
Maxx Yehl took the mound for West Virginia and faced Jake Schaffner to start the bottom of the first. Schaffner won the first battle with a single up the middle. Gavin Gallaher made it to first base but the lead runner was tagged out at second for the first out. Owen Hull followed with a single to left to put runners at first and second. Yehl hit Macon Winslow with a pitch to load the bases in the following at-bat.
Yehl walked Erik Paulsen to score a run for North Carolina, making the score 1-0. Cooper Nicholson grounded out to first but was able to score the runner from third, extending the lead 2-0. The Mountaineers finally got out of the inning after a fly out from Tyler Howe.
The Mountaineers were retired in order in the top of the second. Yehl got back on track in the bottom of the second, only allowing one hit and recording two strikeouts to keep the Tar Heel lead at two.
Mountaineers cut the lead
Ben Lumsden led off the top of the third for WVU and delivered a single to right. Tyrus Hall grounded out at first but was able to advance Lumsden to second. Guzman brought Lumsden home with a single up the middle, cutting the Carolina lead in half (2-1). Kelly blasted a single to put runners at first and second with one out. Guzman was thrown out at third attempting to steal (Kelly was able to steal second)Â Schoenfeld was sat down on strikes to end the inning.
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Yehl had a strong third inning, retiring three of the four batters he faced and recording another strike out, keeping the Tar Heels lead at one (2-1).
WVU ties the game
Smith led off the top of the fourth for WVU with a walk. Graveline followed with a single to right-center to advance Smith to third. Matt Ineich grounded into a double play but was able to advance Smith home to tie the game at two (2-2). The inning ended with a ground out to Brodie Kresser.
Pitcher’s duel
Yehl was able to post another zero in the bottom of the fourth, only allowing one hit and adding two more strike outs to his total. Following ground outs from Lumsden and Hall, Guzman smoked a single up the middle. Following the hit, the Tar Heels went to the bullpen and brought Walker McDuffie into the game. McDuffie struck out Kelly to end the inning.
After retiring Gallaher on a popped out, third baseman Tyrus Hall made an incredible diving play to snag a ground ball hit by Hull and throw over to first baseman Guzman who made an equally impressive play to keep his toe on first base for the out. Yehl ended the inning with another punch out, this time against Winslow.
Following a ground out to Schoenfeld to open the top of the sixth, Smith singled to center. The next at-bat Graveline drew a walk to put runners at first and second with one out. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, Ineich grounded into an inning ending double play to keep the game tied at two. Yehl posted another scoreless inning in the bottom of the sixth and added another strike out to his total.
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McDuffie retired three of the four WVU batters he faced in the top of the seventh to keep the score tied at two. Hynek led off the bottom of the seventh for the Heels and reached base on an fielding error to Hall. French laid down a bunt but a great throw from Kelly (catcher) to second base to tag out Hynek (French reached first base).
Tar Heels grab the lead
Schaffner reached first base on a fielding error to Kresser (both runners reached safely). Gallaher then hit a triple to the gap in right-center to score two for the Tar Heels, giving them a 4-2 lead. Hull singled to add another run and make the score 5-2. West Virginia was able to stop the bleeding and retire the next two batters to end the inning.
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McDuffie retired the Mountaineers in order and recorded two more strikeouts in the top of the eighth.
Nicholson singled to left to start the bottom of the eighth, ending the night for Maxx Yehl. Reese Bassinger entered the game for West Virginia. Howe was able to advance Nicholson on a sacrifice bunt. Bassinger was able to strike out Hynek in the following at-bat, but gave up a walk to French right after.
A wild pitch to Schaffner advanced the runners to second and third with two outs. Schaffner was walked to load the bases. Gallaher was next to bat and smacked a ball to center field that was caught by a diving Paul Schoenfeld to end the inning.
Following a ground out to Graveline, Ineich drew a walked to give WVU a base runner. Kresser followed with a single up the middle to put runners at first and second with one out.
After the hit, North Carolina went to the bullpen and brought in Caden Glauber. Glauber struck out Lumsden and Hall to seal the 5-2 victory for the Tar Heels and hand West Virginia its first loss of the series.
What’s next
WVU must defeat Troy in a rematch Tuesday, this time in the losers’ bracket. The winner of the 2 p.m. EST/1 p.m. local bout moves on to face UNC in the bracket 1 finale.
Tune in to 100.9 FM The Torch or any of its affiliate stations across the John Fredericks Media Network for play-by-play action as the Mountaineers push to stay alive another day.
Stay up to date with WV Sports Nation for more WVU Athletics and 2026 MCWS coverage.
