Starting Lineups + Live Score Updates for West Virginia vs. Kentucky

West Virginia was able to stave off elimination earlier in the day and will now look to hand Kentucky its first loss of the regional, which would force a do-or-die game for both teams tomorrow night.

Steve Sabins will have his work cut out for him in this one from a pitching standpoint, but if WVU's bats stay hot, it could be enough to extend their season another 24 hours.

As we have all tournament, we will keep you posted on big-time moments, pitching changes, and scores throughout tonight's game. We also have the starting lineups posted below the game thread.

GAME THREAD

TOP 1 (WVU)

WVU is in business early. Four walks and the Mountaineers have a 1-0 lead with bases loaded and no outs. Matthew Graveline hits a sac fly to left to tack on another run. Ben Cleaver is chased from the game after issuing another walk. Ira Austin will come in with the bases juiced and one down. Tyrus Hall crushed a ball way foul, but man, if he had straightened it out, it would have been a grand slam. He goes down on strikes, leaving them loaded. WVU leads 3-0.

BOT 1 (UK)

WVU's defense doesn't help starting pitcher David Hagen as Matt Ineich and Tyrus Hall are each charged with a throwing error. Hagen walked in Ethan Hindle with the bases loaded, and Braxton Van Cleave brought in another run on a single to left. He did get a strikeout to limit the damage, but is already up to 39 pitches. WVU leads 3-2.

TOP 2 (WVU)

Gavin Kelly gets a base knock up the middle, but that's it for WVU.

BOT 2 (UK)

Jayce Tharnish rips a double to left and then eventually scores on a grounder to second with two outs. Gavin Kelly nearly made a heck of a play on the ball, which would have prevented the run from scoring and been the third out, but the throw was just off the mark. Tough play and angle, though. We're tied at three heading to inning number three.

TOP 3 (WVU)

The Mountaineers have something cooking again. Ben Lumsden gives WVU the lead back on a ball that hit off the left field wall, scoring two. Armani Guzman scorched one to right to score another to make it 6-3. Kentucky is making a pitching change as the bases are loaded with two outs. Chase Alderman gets Sean Smith to ground out on one pitch, and that'll put an end to the damage for now. West Virginia leads 6-3.

BOT 3 (UK)

Josh Surigao replaces Hagen on the mound and gives up a couple of hits, a walk, and a run. Sabins is now turning to Carson Estridge for the first time this weekend to try to hold onto the lead. Just one out. Estridge throws water on the fire, but gets some help from right fielder Armani Guzman, who guns out a runner at the plate by a mile. West Virginia takes a 6-4 lead into the fourth.

TOP 4 (WVU)

Three up, three down for the Mountaineers.

BOT 4 (UK)

An eventful inning for the Wildcats. Tyler Bell opened it up with a moonshot of a homer to right. A couple of hits from Luke Lawrence and Ethan Hindle tied the game up, and then an RBI single from Van Cleave gave Kentucky its first lead of the game. 3B Tyrus Hall made an incredible barehanded play on a bunt, just barely throwing out the batter at first to shut it down, Kentucky up 7-6.

TOP 5 (WVU)

Not much going for the Mountaineers. That's two straight innings that the bats were quieted.

BOT 5 (UK)

Carson Estridge is pulled after hitting two batters, and just when it looked like the Wildcats were about to have a big inning, Ben McDougal comes up big by notching two punchouts and getting a grounder to work out of the jam. No runs here for the Cats.

TOP 6 (WVU)

Huge missed opportunity for the Mountaineers. Paul Schoenfeld leads things off with a double and walks by Smith and Ineich load the bases, but nothing comes across. Kresser and Lumsden both go down on strikes chasing in the dirt.

BOT 6 (UK)

McDougal gets the job done again, working a quick 1-2-3 inning.

TOP 7 (WVU)

Armani Guzman gets aboard with a one-out base knock up the middle and steals second. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, he stays put there as Kelly strikes out and Schoenfeld lines out to center.

BOT 7 (UK)

After getting a couple of outs, things unravel for McDougal as he gives up back-to-back homers to Tharnish and Bell. Kentucky leads it 9-6.

TOP 8 (WVU)

1-2-3 for the Mountaineers. They have three out left to muster a comeback or the season is over.

BOT 8 (UK)

1-2-3 for the Wildcats. Let's see if the Mountaineers have one more rally left in them. It'll be the bottom of the order due up in the ninth.

TOP 9 (WVU)

Mountaineers have loaded the bases and have no outs. Kentucky is making a pitching change. Armani Guzman and the top of the order are back up for WVU. Guzman walks, and it's 9-7. Gavin Kelly is now coming up, still bases loaded and no outs. Kelly hits a sac fly, and Schoenfeld hits a three-run homer. West Virginia has taken an 11-9 lead. That'll do it for WVU, but they erase the deficit and take a two-run lead. They're three outs away from forcing a game Monday night.

BOT 9 (UK)

Ben McDougal gives up a base hit but slams the door shut. West Virginia wins. We're coming back to the ballpark tomorrow night for a win-or-go-home game.

West Virginia's starting lineup

1. RF Armani Guzman — .298
2. 2B Gavin Kelly —.390
3. CF Paul Schoenfeld — .342
4. DH Sean Smith — .322
5. C Matthew Graveline — .284
6. SS Matt Ineich — .304
7. 2B Brodie Kresser — .286
8. LF Ben Lumsden — .254
9. 3B Tyrus Hall - .276

SP David Hagen

Kentucky's starting lineup

1. CF Jayce Tharnish — .349
2. SS Tyler Bell — .341
3. DH Luke Lawrence — .341
4. 1B Hudson Brown —.336
5. 2B Ethan Hindle — .307
6. RF Braxton Van Cleave — .259
7. LF Carson Hansen — .235
8. 3B Caden Cloud — 208
9. C Owen Jenkins — .246

SP Ben Cleaver

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