WVU Baseball Seizes Control of Clemson Regional with 9th Inning Rally

WVU Baseball claimed the drivers’ seat in the NCAA Tournament’s Clemson Regional on Saturday, May 31, scoring four runs in the ninth inning to win 9-6 after blowing a four-run lead in front of a raucous Tigers’ home crowd.

Armani Guzman logged two hits and two RBI, including the game-tying base knock; Sam White reached base three times, scoring two runs and putting the Mountaineers in front in the ninth inning, while Brodie Kresser went 4-for-5 with two runs and a quartet of singles.

The Mountaineers leapt in front 3-0 in the first inning. Skylar King wore a pitch to kick off the rally, then a Logan Sauve single put runners at the corners. Kyle West grounded out to plate King, then Jace Rinehart doubled down to line for another run before trotting home on a Sam White single.

West Virginia starter Jack Kartsonas mowed through three perfect innings to begin the game before allowing a single to Clemson leadoff man Cam Cannarella in the fourth. Three Mountaineers singles in the bottom of the frame made it 4-0, but the Tigers raced back to tie the game in the sixth, starting when Cannarella stung Kartsonas for a two-run homer; the senior right-hander rebounded to fan Jarren Purify, then head coach Steve Sabins turned to his bullpen.

Carson Estridge hit one batter and walked another, prompting Sabins to turn to Reese Bassinger, who allowed runs to cross via a double and a sacrifice fly before ending the inning.

Mountaineers Come Back to Life

Cannarella put the Tigers in front in the seventh, doubling home Andrew Siufo after a one-out triple, but the Mountaineers tied the game in the eighth after a two-out single from Brodie Kresser. Armani Guzman doubled, allowing Kresser to race 270 feet home.

Clemson reliever Lucas Mahlstedt needed just four pitches to record the first two outs of the ninth inning, but a Grant Hussey double turned their fortunes around. Pinch-runner Jorge Valdes scored on a Sam White double misplayed in center field, then three consecutive singles loaded the bases; one from Ben Lumsden scored White. Stray pitches hit Guzman and King, pushing the Mountaineers’ lead to 9-5.

.@WVUBaseball TAKE THE LEAD IN THE TOP OF THE 9th#RoadToOmaha x 🎥 ACCN pic.twitter.com/czkvhAgdlW

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 1, 2025

After recording two outs, reliever Chase Meyer began to labor in the ninth, loaded the bases and walking in a run before Sabins ended his day at 50 pitches, turning to Ben McDougal with the winning run at the plate. McDougal forced a foul tip off a full count, and the Mountaineers escaped.

WVU Baseball will face the winner of the Sunday, June 1 game between Clemson and Kentucky (held at noon) at 6 p.m. that same day.