OMAHA, NE — Following a gritty but ultimately heartbreaking 5-2 defeat to North Carolina in Game 6 of the Men’s College World Series, WVU Baseball Head Coach Steve Sabins, along with standout players Armani Guzman and Maxx Yehl, addressed the media in a postgame press conference.
The Mountaineers showed resilience, erasing an early deficit and keeping the contest tied into the late innings before the Tar Heels capitalized on a seventh-inning surge. Read more: Mountaineers reflect on first CWS loss.
Sabins praises team resilience
Sabins praised his team’s fight in what became their first loss of the series;
“These guys have shown incredible heart all year,” Sabins said. “We traded punches with a really good North Carolina team and played clean baseball for most of the night. Baseball can be a cruel game sometimes, but I’m proud of how we competed.”
Guzman’s offensive spark
The Mountaineers jumped on North Carolina starter Ryan Lynch early, with Guzman drawing a leadoff walk in the first. They cut a 2-0 deficit in half in the third when Guzman delivered an RBI single up the middle to score Ben Lumsden.
In the fourth, they tied the game at 2-2 on a double-play groundout that plated a runner from third. Strong defense, including a highlight-reel diving stop by third baseman Tyrus Hall and a nimble scoop at first by Guzman, helped keep the game close.
Related: Mountaineers battle but fall 5-2 in Game 6 of CWS.
Guzman, who finished with two hits and played a pivotal role at the plate and in the field, reflected on the team’s offensive response;
“We stayed locked in and kept battling,” Guzman said. “Getting that run back in the third and tying it up felt good. We just couldn’t get that big hit when we needed it late.”
Yehl’s strong outing and late surge
On the mound, Yehl delivered a solid outing, working into the eighth inning while striking out several Tar Heels and limiting damage through the middle frames. He navigated traffic in the first, allowing two runs, but settled in with scoreless innings in the second, third, fourth, and sixth. The seventh proved decisive, as UNC used a pair of errors and timely hitting to push across three runs.
Related: Unearned unease: disastrous inning sends WVU to brink of elimination.
Yehl acknowledged the late collapse but focused on the positives;
“I felt good out there and trusted my stuff,” he said. “We made some great defensive plays behind me. It stings to let it slip away, but we’ve got more baseball to play.”
Looking ahead to elimination game
Sabins emphasized the opportunity ahead, with West Virginia facing Troy in an elimination game on Tuesday. The winner advances to face North Carolina again in the bracket finale. The coach stressed the need to move forward quickly.
Despite the loss, the Mountaineers’ run to Omaha has energized fans back home. With their season on the line, WVU aims to channel the same resilience that defined their Game 6 effort and keep their championship hopes alive.
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The deficit was the late day start and the immense amount of sun in the out field blinding the players. One great point; NC has been in WVU’s place for around 13 years or so. Always making the trip but never winning the trip. So I have much more respect for our EERS playing hard and all heart! It’s not over until the fat lady sings!