In a game that had everything—early leads, power surges, and late-inning heroics—the West Virginia Mountaineers survived a furious Kentucky comeback to claim a dramatic 6-5 victory in Game 7 of the Morgantown Regional. Maxx Yehl dueled effectively on the mound early, while Armani Guzman delivered the game-winning single in the bottom of the 10th, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and punching WVU’s ticket forward. What started as a comfortable lead nearly slipped away, but resilience and timely hitting proved decisive in one of the most memorable postseason games of the season. Read more: Mountaineers Walk It Off in Heart-Stopping 10th: WVU Edges Kentucky 6-5 in Morgantown Regional Thriller. Read more: Mountaineers walk it off in heart-stopping 10th.
Early momentum: Mountaineers grab the lead
Maxx Yehl got the start for the Mountaineers in the final game of the Morgantown Regional. Jayce Tharnish led off for the Wildcats and singled to right. Yehl responded by striking out Tyler Bell for the first out. Luke Lawrence flew out in the following at bat for the second out. Yehl hit Hudson Brown with a pitch to put runners at first and second for the Wildcats. The hit batsman would not hurt the Mountaineers as Yehl struck out Ethan Hindle in the following at bat.
Armani Guzman led off the bottom of the first for WVU but was struck out by Kentucky pitcher Jackson Soucie. Gavin Kelly followed with a ground rule double over the center field wall. Paul Schoenfeld grounded out to first but was able to advance Kelly to third with two outs.
Sean Smith swung and missed on a strike three, fortunately for the Mountaineers the ball reached the backstop, allowing Kelly to score and Smith to reach first base to make the score 1-0 WVU (Smith reached second base thanks to a wild pitch to Graveline). The Mountaineers were unable to extend their lead after Matthew Graveline struck out on a 3-2 pitch.
Yehl dominates as WVU builds advantage
Yehl had a great second inning of work, retiring the Wildcats in order and added another strike out to his total. Matt Ineich and Brodie Kresser were both sat down to start the bottom of the second. Ben Lumsden drew a two out walk on a 3-2 pitch. West Virginia could not capitalize on the walk after Tyrus Hall was retired on strikes to end the inning. Yehl started the top of the third by retiring Owen Jenkins on a ground out and striking out Tharnish.
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Bell got hit by a pitch in the following at bat but was thrown out at second on an attempted steal to end the inning. Guzman opened the bottom of the third with an infield single (Guzman later stole second base during the Kelly at bat).
Kelly grounded out but was able to advance Guzman to third. Schoenfeld also grounded out but was able to bring Guzman home and extend the West Virginia lead 2-0. Smith followed with a single to left. Graveline walked on a 3-2 pitch to put runners at first and second for Ineich. Ineich was unable to add to the lead after a fly out to left to end the inning.
Kentucky strikes back, Mountaineers respond
Yehl opened the top of the fourth with a strike out to Lawrence. Brown answered with a solo shot to center to cut the West Virginia lead in half (2-1). Yehl followed with another strike out, this time to Hindle. Van Cleave flew out to end the inning.
Pitcher Jaxon Jelkin entered the game for the Wildcats to start the bottom of the fourth. Jelkin sat down the Mountaineers in order, recording two strike outs in the inning. Cerny singled to open the inning. Hansen popped up a bunt to Yehl for the first out. Jenkins hit into a double play to end the inning. Guzman doubled to the wall in left to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Kelly walked on a 3-2 pitch in the following at bat. Schoenfeld brought Guzman home with a single to left, extending the West Virginia lead 3-1.
Following a pop out from Smith, Graveline added another run with a double to right, giving the Mountaineers a 4-1 lead. Ineich was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Kresser. Kresser popped up and was unable to advance the runners. Ben Lumsden grounded out to leave the bases loaded.
Bullpen battle and late-inning drama
Ian Korn entered the game for the Mountaineers to start the sixth. Korn retired Tharnish on a groundout to start the inning. Bell was hit by a pitch in the next at bat to give Kentucky a base runner. Lawrence followed with a single to center. Brown advanced the runners to second and third on a ground out. The Mountaineers escaped the inning with no damage thanks to a ground out from Hindle to end the inning. Hall and Guzman were both sat down to start the bottom of the sixth.
Kelly then stepped to the plate and delivered a solo home run to left to extend the WVU lead 5-1. Next at bat, Schoenfeld singled up the middle. The Wildcats went to the bullpen to bring in Ira Austin. Smith grounded out to end the inning. Korn retired the Wildcats in order in the top of the seventh, recording two strike outs in the inning.
Graveline opened the bottom of the seventh with a single to left. Unfortunately, Ineich grounded into a double play the following at bat. Kresser reached base on a single. Lumsden advanced Kresser to third on a single to right. Hall left the runners stranded after a strike out to end the inning.
Kentucky strikes back: game heads to extras
Both Jenkins and Tharnish were retired to start the eighth inning. After back-to-back hits from Bell and Lawrence, Brown blasted a three-run home run to center to cut the West Virginia lead to just one (5-4). Hindle tied the game with a solo shot to left the next at bat. WVU went to the bullpen, this time bringing in Chansen Cole. Following the pitching change, Van Cleave singled to right. Cole was able to get out of the inning with a strike out to Cerny.
Pitcher Jack Bennett entered the game for Kentucky in the bottom of the eighth inning. Bennett retired the Mountaineers in order. Hansen walked to open the inning. Jenkins advanced the runner to second with a sacrifice bunt. Cole struck out Tharnish for the second out. Bell grounded out to end the inning still tied at five. The Mountaineers were retired in order in the bottom of the ninth.
Guzman’s walk-off magic in the 10th
Lawrence led off the 10th with a fly out to center. Brown drew a walk the next at bat. WVU went to the bullpen again, this time bringing in Dawson Montesa. Hindle walked on a 3-2 pitch to put runners at first and third.
Montesa struck out Van Cleave for the second out and Cerny for the third on a fly out. Kresser singled to right to lead off the bottom of the 10th. Lumsden walked the following at bat. Hall was unable to advance the runners as he popped up a bunt for the first out. Guzman delivered the game-winning hit to center to score Kresser. WVU wins Game 7 of the Morgantown Regional 6-5.
