OMAHA NE — West Virginia head coach Steve Sabins opened the postgame press conference by congratulating Troy on its “miraculous” season before turning his attention to his Mountaineers’ commanding 12-0 victory in Game 9 of the Men’s College World Series. The win keeps West Virginia among the final four teams standing. Read more: Sabins and stars reflect on shutout win and final four run.
Sabins praises Troy while crediting team effort
Sabins called Troy one of the best teams in the nation and highlighted the Trojans’ ability to maximize limited resources. He then spotlighted strong performances from Dawson Montesa, Gavin Kelly, Reese Bassinger and others who delivered in high-pressure moments.
Related: Matt Wells on WVU Baseball’s Omaha run: culture, fans, and staying in the moment.
Montesa started and threw 112 pitches, helping strand 13 Troy base runners.
“It’s just hitting your spots that the pitching coach calls,” Montesa said. “You trust the scouting reports, stay in and down, and execute every pitch.”
Kelly’s power and Bassinger’s clutch relief fuel the victory
Gavin Kelly launched a three-run homer in the sixth inning — his 12th since May — that shifted momentum and extended the lead to 5-0. He credited former teammate Sam White for key advice that unlocked his power stroke.
Reese Bassinger entered in the seventh with the bases loaded and no outs. He struck out two and escaped the jam, preserving the shutout.
“Those are the situations I really like to be in,” Bassinger said, recalling the emotional moment of locking eyes with his dad right after the big out.
Related: Mountaineers power past Trojans 12-0 to stay alive in Omaha.
Sabins stressed the importance of staying aggressive on the bases and adding insurance runs against a dangerous Troy offense.
“You have to keep your foot on the gas,” he explained.
He also detailed the pitching decisions and praised Montesa’s exceptional makeup and versatility.
West Virginia now prepares for North Carolina in another elimination game on Wednesday, carrying confidence and momentum into the next chapter of their Omaha run.
First pitch against the Tar Heels is set for 2 p.m. EST/1 p.m. local. Tune in to 100.9 FM The Torch or any of its affiliate stations for play-by-play coverage of the Mountaineers’ final push toward the program’s first national title.
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