Kelly's 3-run shot leads West Virginia to rout of Troy in MCWS


Gavin Kelly hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs to lead No. 16 West Virginia to a dominant 12-0 victory over designated home team Troy in a Men's College World Series elimination game on Tuesday at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.

Kelly went 3-for-6 to pace a potent Mountaineers offense that racked up 14 hits. Armani Guzman enjoyed a 2-for-4 performance with two RBIs and three stolen bases. Matthew Graveline tallied an RBI double and scored two runs. And Matt Ineich went 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored.

The West Virginia pitching staff was masterful, combining for a four-hit shutout. Starter Dawson Montesa set the tone by pitching 5⅓ scoreless innings and allowing just two hits and four walks while striking out six. The bullpen trio of Ben McDougal, Reese Bassinger and Carson Estridge finished the game, with Bassinger striking out five over two perfect innings.

The Mountaineers broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third inning when Graveline delivered his double. He later scored on a wild pitch to give West Virginia a 2-0 lead. The game blew open in the sixth inning, highlighted by Kelly's blast that made it 5-0. Sean Smith added an RBI single later in the frame. West Virginia tacked on another run in the seventh before erupting for five more in the ninth to put the game away.

Troy struggled to generate any offense. Josh Pyne, Jimmy Janicki, Jabe Boroff and Houston Markham accounted for the Trojans' four hits. Starting pitcher Cooper Ellingworth allowed two earned runs on four hits over three innings.

Up next: West Virginia will play No. 5 North Carolina on Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET in the MCWS.

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