By: Shanna Rose
CLEMSON, S.C. –West Virginia’s Armani Guzman drove in Brodie Kresser in the bottom of the ninth inning to walk off Kentucky and complete the comeback with a 4-3 victory on Friday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Guzman finished the day with two hits, an RBI, and a run scored in his first start since May 4.
Reese Bassinger earned the win for the second-seeded Mountaineers (42-14), pitching 1.2 innings of scoreless baseball. He gave up no hits and struck out one.
Once again, Griffin Kirn left it all on the mound. He pitched 7.1 innings and gave up one earned run on five hits. The senior struck out seven.
Simon Gregersen suffered the loss for the Wildcats (29-25).
“The last three weeks have been choppy,” WVU head coach Steve Sabins said. “We had played okay baseball down the stretch, so to come into this environment on the biggest stage and possibly play our best game in the biggest moment and also get our first walk-off of the season on the road is really special. I think we have the most road wins in the country, and so it’s fitting for this team to come on the road and to be able to get their first walk-off.”
In the third, Kentucky took a 3-0 lead in the fourth on a squeeze bunt and an error that allowed two runs to score.
However, the Wildcats made some crucial mistakes in the fifth. With two outs, Guzman stole second and Logan Sauve reached on a throwing error. Another throwing error on a ground ball from Jace Rinehart allowed Guzman and Sauve to score and cut the deficit to 3-2.
The Mountaineers tied the game in the sixth. Gavin Kelly led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on Guzman’s sacrifice bunt. He then scored on Kresser’s ground out.
Kirn and Bassinger retired Kentucky in order in the seventh and eighth. In the ninth, the Wildcats threatened to score after Kresser’s throwing error and an intentional walk put two runners on. Bassinger struck out Luke Lawrence to get out of the inning.
Kresser led off the ninth with a double and moved up 90 feet on a passed ball. Guzman lined the ball to center where Griffin Cameron made a diving catch, allowing Kresser to easily score.
WVU advances in the winner’s bracket to play the No. 1 (11) Clemson/No. 4 USC Upstate winner tomorrow at 6 p.m.
Photo Credit: WVU Sports
