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

Win or go home. That's what is on the line tonight for West Virginia and Kentucky as they fight to secure a spot in the super regional round against Cal Poly, which is waiting to meet the winner after winning the Los Angeles regional on Sunday.

As usual, we will have you covered with live updates and analysis of tonight's battle in our game thread below, along with the starting lineups for both teams. Let's play ball and crown a regional winner!

GAME THREAD

TOP 1 (UK)

Yehl with a much better first inning than he had against the Cats two nights ago. He gave up a leadoff hit to left and issued a 2-out walk, but throws up a very important zero to start things off, punching out two batters.

BOT 1 (WVU)

Gavin Kelly gets a double, scoots to second on a grounder by Schoenfeld, and then scores on a strike three passed by against Sean Smith, who reached first safely. Mountaineers leave Smith stranded at second but strike first, 1-0.

TOP 2 (UK)

1-2-3 inning for Maxx Yehl as he takes care of a good chunk of the bottom of Kentucky's order.

BOT 2 (WVU)

Aside from a two-out walk to Ben Lumsden, a clean inning for Soucie. Top of the order due up next for the Mountaineers. Headed to the third with West Virginia leading 1-0.

TOP 3 (UK)

Another zero for Maxx Yehl. He finally retires Tharnish, who has been a thorn in WVU's side all weekend, and after hitting Bell with two outs, he picks him off at first. Guzman had a bad throw to get him at second, but was able to nail him at the bag.

BOT 3 (WVU)

Armani Guzman leads off the inning with a drag bunt base hit. He got picked at first but beat the throw to second. Gavin Kelly moved him to third, and then Scheonfeld stretched the bat out for a grounder to short to bring him home.

TOP 4 (UK)

Hudson Brown gets the Wildcats on the board with a solo homer to right center. Yehl bounced right back after the mistake pitch to get a strikeout and a flyout to shallow left in foul territory. It's 2-1, Mountaineers.

BOT 4 (WVU)

Kentucky has turned to ace pitcher Jaxon Jelkin, and it's 1-2-3 for WVU.

TOP 5 (UK)

Cerny gets an infield hit to start it, but Yehl gets an out on a popped-up bunt and then induces a groundball double play to slam the door shut.

BOT 5 (WVU)

Two score in the inning for the Mountaineers. Armani Guzman got it started with a leadoff double that bounced against the left field wall. Schoenfield ripped a base hit to score Guzman, and then Graveline dropped a double into right, plating another. To the sixth we go, West Virginia 4, Kentucky 1.

TOP 6 (UK)

Ian Korn is now in the game for Maxx Yehl, who goes five strong, giving up just the solo homer to Brown back in the fourth. Runners reach 2nd and 3rd, but Korn gets a weak grounder to Guzman at first, and there's no harm done. Still 4-1.

BOT 6 (WVU)

With two outs, Gavin Kelly scorches a homer to left to make it 5-1. Schoenfeld follows it up with a hard base knock up the middle, and it knocks Jelkin out of the game. Big for WVU to get the Cats' ace off the mound. Ira Austin gets Sean Smith to ground out to second to end the two-out magic for the Mountaineers.

TOP 7 (UK)

Super clean inning of work there by Korn, breezing through the 6-7-8 hitters. Score holds at 5-1.

BOT 7 (WVU)

West Virginia gets some traffic on the bases with two outs but is unable to tack on a run. Tyrus Hall is having a rough night at the dish, striking out for the fourth time in as many at-bats.

TOP 8 (UK)

Oh boy. Hudson Brown has gone yard again, and it's a three-run shot. Kentucky is back within one and still has one out to play with in the inning. And we're now tied up. Ethan Hindle hits a solo homer. Chansen Cole comes in and, after giving up a base hit, gets a strikeout to end the inning, but the damage has been done. We're tied at five.

BOT 8 (WVU)

Top of the order set down in order quickly. Momentum has swung in Kentucky's favor.

TOP 9 (UK)

Kentucky gets a runner to second with just one out, but Cole gets a strikeout and a comebacker to slam the door shut. Still 5-5.

BOT 9 (WVU)

Two strikeouts and a comebacker. Absolutely nothing going for the Mountaineers there. We're going to extras.

TOP 10 (UK)

Chansen Cole walks one and is relieved by Dawson Montesa mid at bat, which ultimately ends up in a walk. He punches out Van Cleave on a breaking ball and then gets a flyball to left to end the inning. No runs for Kentucky.

BOT 10 (WVU)

WALK-OFF! Armani Guzman does it again! He hits a base hit to center, and it scores the game-winning run. They'll be hosting Cal Poly for a super regional this weekend.

West Virginia's starting lineup

1. 1B Armani Guzman — .302
2. C Gavin Kelly —.379
3. CF Paul Schoenfeld — .345
4. DH Sean Smith — .316
5. LF Matthew Graveline — .284
6. SS Matt Ineich — .300
7. 2B Brodie Kresser — .289
8. RF Ben Lumsden — .254
9. 3B Tyrus Hall - .276

SP Maxx Yehl

Kentucky's starting lineup

1. CF Jayce Tharnish — .355
2. SS Tyler Bell — .343
3. DH Luke Lawrence — .343
4. 1B Hudson Brown —.327
5. 2B Ethan Hindle — .307
6. RF Braxton Van Cleave — .278
7. 3b Tyler Cerny — .176
8. LF Carson Hansen — 225
9. C Owen Jenkins — .247

SP Jackson Soucie

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