West Virginia vs Troy baseball score: Mountaineers win CWS opening game

West Virginia’s baseball team opened the 2026 College World Series with a 7-5 victory over Troy on June 12 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. The Mountaineers, seeded No. 16 nationally, broke a 5-5 tie in the eighth inning when Tyrus Hall hit an RBI single that scored two runs, giving them a 7-5 lead. Hall drove in four runs total, while Sean Smith added a solo homer and Armani Guzman stole home in the first inning—marking the first straight steal of home in the CWS since 2000. Troy, appearing in the CWS for the first time, struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Five different players recorded RBIs, but their efforts fell short after West Virginia’s bullpen stabilized the game. Ian Korn entered in relief and allowed just one earned run over six innings. Troy’s Jimmy Janicki hit his 20th homer of the season, a 430-foot shot with an exit velocity of 111.1 mph, but the Trojans lost their six-game win streak with the defeat. West Virginia now advances to face the winner of Friday’s matchup between No. 5 North Carolina and Ole Miss, while Troy will play the loser in an elimination game. The Mountaineers improved their odds of avoiding the loser’s bracket, as only four of the past 44 champions were sent there after their first game. Troy’s loss snapped a six-game winning streak, ending their momentum early in the tournament. The game was marked by back-and-forth scoring, with Troy leading 3-1 after three innings before West Virginia tied it in the fourth. Troy regained the lead in the seventh with a solo homer, but West Virginia tied it again in the eighth. The final out came when Troy’s Jimmy Janicki popped out in foul territory with a runner on first, ending the game. Both teams are making their CWS debuts, adding to the excitement of the 2026 tournament. West Virginia’s victory sets the tone for their first appearance in Omaha, while Troy’s elimination game will determine their path forward.