Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Matthew Graveline played hero Saturday afternoon, lifting No. 15 West Virginia to an 11-10 walk-off win over No. 23 UCF at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
Armani Guzman had three hits and scored three runs for the Mountaineers (20-6, 8-3 Big 12). Gavin Kelly had two hits, two RBIs and scored two runs.
Carson Estridge picked up the win, tossing 1 2/3 innings of one-hit baseball.
John Smith III had three hits and four RBIs for the Knights (19-9, 9-2). Cayden Gaskin and DeAmez Ross both finished with three hits.
Armani Guzman singled and stole second to start the game before scoring on a throwing error to give WVU a 1-0 lead in the first.
In the third, UCF tied the game on a double from Smith before a fielder’s choice and an RBI single by Landon Moran made it 3-1.
In the bottom of the frame, a solo home run from Paul Schoenfeld cut the Mountaineers’ deficit to 3-2.
The Knights tacked on three runs in the fifth and four in the sixth, extending their lead to 10-2.
Despite trailing by eight, WVU began to chip away in the sixth, as Matt Ineich blasted a two-run home run over the left field wall.
Guzman plated Ben Lumsden with a base hit up the middle. Then Kelly doubled, scoring Matthew Robaugh and Guzman and pulling the Mountaineers within three at 10-7.
With the bases loaded and one out in the ninth, Ineich drilled a ball to right field off the glove of Andrew Williamson to score two more. Zahir Barjam struck out and Lumsden was intentionally walked to reload the bases, setting the stage for Graveline. The senior lined a two-RBI double back up the middle to end the game.
The two teams will meet in the rubber match of the series on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET.
Photo Credit: Shanna Rose
