After a nearly three-hour weather delay, West Virginia capped off a tense game with a walk-off win over Kentucky, taking the game 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning. The hero was Mountaineers third baseman Armani Guzman, who delivered a sacrifice fly that brought Brodie Kresser home and sealed the victory.
“He gets a start in the biggest game of the season… and comes through with the walk-off sac fly while playing great third base. This is why we coach — for moments like this,” said WVU head coach Steve Sabins.
West Virginia, now 42-14 on the season, is making its third straight NCAA tournament appearance. The last time the Mountaineers made three consecutive tournaments was from 1961 to 1964 under coach Steve Harrick.
“I think we have the most road wins in the country, so it’s fitting that our first walk-off comes on the road,” Sabins added.
Kentucky struck first, scoring three runs in the top of the fourth inning thanks to a bunt from sophomore designated hitter Kyuss Gargett and a throwing error by WVU’s Brodie Kresser.
The teams have met just once before in postseason play — a 10-0 elimination win for Kentucky in last year’s Lexington Regional.
But WVU fought back fiercely.
In the fifth inning, with the bases loaded, senior right fielder Jace Rinehart reached first base on a wild throw by Kentucky’s second baseman Luke Lawrence. That mistake allowed Armani Guzman and Logan Sauve to score, narrowing Kentucky’s lead to one run.
The Mountaineers tied the game in the sixth inning on a groundout to shortstop that scored Gavin Kelly from third base.
Griffin Kirn, WVU’s left-handed redshirt senior pitcher, threw 7⅓ innings, striking out seven batters and allowing just three runs — only one earned — while throwing 118 pitches.
“Doesn’t matter who’s on base,” Kirn said after the game. “Doesn’t matter what happens. As long as you get a zero at the end of the day, you’re probably going to stay in the game.”
With the win, WVU moves on to Saturday’s winner’s bracket game against either Clemson or USC Upstate.
