Troy baseball falls to West Virginia in College World Series opener

The magic that defined Troy's postseason run hit a snag on Friday as the Trojans fell 7-5 to West Virginia in their College World Series opener. Despite an early offensive surge, Troy could not hold off the Mountaineers, who capitalized on a pivotal eighth-inning rally to secure the victory.

Early Momentum and Back-and-Forth Action

Troy showed plenty of life early on, shaking off a scoreless first inning to plate four combined runs across the second and third frames. Jabe Boroff ignited the attack with an RBI single, continuing his standout performance on the national stage. While the Trojans traded blows with West Virginia, the Mountaineers managed to reclaim the lead in the fourth inning behind an RBI double from Armani Guzman.

Guzman proved to be a force for West Virginia, notably scoring the game's opening run after stealing home in the first—a feat not seen in the College World Series since 2000. He later added his RBI double to keep the pressure on the Trojans.

Late-Game Drama

The Trojans attempted to reignite their momentum in the seventh inning when Jimmy Janicki launched a solo home run, but the offense struggled to sustain that energy. The game turned for good in the bottom of the eighth, when West Virginia's Tyrus Hall delivered a crushing blow. Already responsible for a two-run double earlier in the contest, Hall sent a single into right field that plated two more runs, effectively putting the game out of reach.

Troy's bid for a ninth-inning comeback fizzled out despite a two-out walk from Blake Cavill. Janicki, who provided the earlier power surge, ultimately popped out in foul territory to end the threat.

Key Performances and What’s Next

West Virginia reliever Ian Korn proved instrumental in the win, silencing the Troy lineup for six innings while surrendering just two hits. Conversely, Troy managed seven hits off Mountaineer starter Chansen Cole before running into trouble against the bullpen.

With the loss, Troy faces a challenging road ahead. The team moves to an elimination game this Sunday, where they will face the loser of the matchup between Ole Miss and North Carolina. To reach the championship series, the Trojans must now rattle off four consecutive victories.