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

It's here. Today marks the start of the College World Series, and for the first time in program history, both West Virginia and Troy will take the field in Omaha.

Regardless of what happens today, both teams will get tomorrow off before returning to action on Sunday. The loser of this game will play the early game against the loser of North Carolina/Ole Miss, while the winner will take on the winner of that matchup in the evening game on Sunday.

To keep track of all the action, follow along here, where we will post updates throughout the day from lineups to score updates, pitching changes, and more. Underneath the game thread are the projected starting lineups for today's game. Once the lineups are officially submitted, we will remove the word "projected".

GAME THREAD

TOP 1 (TROY)

Cole hits the second batter in Troy's lineup on the first pitch, but gets a punch out and a lineout to short. No harm done here in the first. Mountaineers head to the bat rack.

BOT 1 (WVU)

WVU strikes first, thanks to the incredible speed of Armani Guzman. He hit a grounder to second that was botched, but to be honest, I think there was a pretty good chance he would have beat it out had it been fielded cleanly. The ball went into shallow right field, and a good heads-up play from Guzman allowed him to stroll into second. Gavin Kelly struck out on a pitch in the dirt and on the throw to first to retire him, Guzman scooted over to third. Then, with two outs, Guzman caught Troy off guard with a straight-up steal of home, which gave him the single-season school record.

TOP 2 (TROY)

The Trojans answer with some two-out magic. It looked like Cole would breeze right through the inning, but a double from Darnell and an RBI single through the left side of the infield ties the game up at one.

BOT 2 (WVU)

Matt Ineich works a walk after a long at-bat to begin things, and then Brodie Kresser singles through the right side of the infield. Ben Lumsden drops down a bunt down the third base side to move the runners in scoring position for Tyrus Hall, who unloaded on a first-pitch fastball for a two-run double. The ball was just inches away from going over the fence. It's 3-1, West Virginia.

TOP 3 (TROY)

The Trojans are squaring everything up and have scored three runs in the inning on four hits. That's going to do it for Chansen Cole. Just didn't have his stuff today and kept the ball up. Ian Korn is now coming in relief with a runner on 2nd and two outs. Troy leads 4-3. Korn walks the first batter he faces but gets a grounder to first to end the inning.

BOT 3 (WVU)

West Virginia ties it back up at four thanks to a moonshot by Sean Smith into the left field bullpen. We're headed to the fourth, tied at four.

TOP 4 (TROY)

A 1-2-3 inning for Korn, who gets a strikeout sandwiched by a pair of flyouts.

BOT 4 (WVU)

Now it's WVU's turn for some two-out magic as Tyrus Hall draws a walk and then Armani Guzman comes through with an RBI double to left. The left fielder dove for the ball, and it kicked away, allowing Guzman to advance to third. Stubbs' day is done as Troy turns to the bullpen with two outs and Gavin Kelly at the dish in a 1-0 count. Kelly flies out to right on the first pitch he sees from Zach Crotchfelt. Quiet day for the Mountaineer star thus far. WVU regains the lead, 5-4.

TOP 5 (TROY)

Korn walks the cleanup man, Janicki, to start things off, but is able to settle in and collect three outs before anything gets going for the Trojans.

BOT 5 (WVU)

For the first time today, the Mountaineers fail to plate a run in an inning. They strand runners on first and second as Matt Ineich strikes out after a nine-pitch battle and Brodie Kresser flies out to right.

TOP 6 (TROY)

A nice solid and efficient inning there from Korn. He sets the Trojans down in order.

BOT 6 (WVU)

For the second straight inning, the Mountaineers are kept off the scoreboard.

TOP 7 (TROY)

The Trojans tie it up at five thanks to a solo shot from Janicki. Korn was breezing along once again, had two outs and two strikes, and hung a breaking ball out over the heart of the plate.

BOT 7 (WVU)

WVU's bats have gone silent. Three up and three down for the Mountaineers.

TOP 8 (TROY)

Korn dances out of trouble after Tyrus Hall took too long on a throw to first, which gave Troy a baserunner to lead things off. A sac bunt, a strikeout, and a grounder to Ineich at short, slamming the door shut on the scoring threat, stranding the runner at second.

BOT 8 (WVU)

Tyrus Hall comes through with another two-RBI base hit to give West Virginia a 7-5 lead. Ineich and Kresser led the inning off with a pair of hits, and Lumsden laid down another bunt to set the table for Hall. WVU needs three outs to record its first-ever win at the College World Series.

TOP 9 (TROY)

Two outs in the inning, and Korn walks Cavill, bringing up Janicki. Sabins is going to the bullpen, hoping to get the final out from Ben McDougal. McDougal gets Janicki to pop out to first and the Mountaineers win!

West Virginia's starting lineup

1. RF Armani Guzman — .312
2. 2B Gavin Kelly — .384
3. CF Paul Schoenfeld — .342
4. DH Sean Smith — .320
5. C Matthew Graveline — .293
6. SS Matt Ineich — .296
7. 1B Brodie Kresser — .298
8. LF Ben Lumsden — .280
9. 3B Tyrus Hall — .278

SP Chansen Cole

Troy's starting lineup

1. SS Aaron Piasecki — .346
2. 3B Josh Pyne — .291
3. 1B Blake Cavill — .279
4. C Jimmy Janicki — .341
5. CF Steven Meier — .321
6. LF Drew Nelson — .307
7. 2B Sean Darnell — .249
8. DH Jabe Boroff — .264
9. RF Houston Markham — .324

SP Benjamin Stubbs

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