Amber Aniston • June 17, 2026

West Virginia Dominates Troy to Stay Alive in College World Series

OMAHA, Neb. — No. 16 national seed West Virginia kept its season alive Tuesday afternoon with a commanding 12–0 victory over Troy in a College World Series elimination game at Charles Schwab Field. Behind a combined four-hit shutout and an explosive offensive performance, the Mountaineers advanced while bringing an end to Troy’s historic postseason run. 


West Virginia improved to 47–16 on the season and moved on to face North Carolina in another elimination contest. Troy finished its remarkable campaign at 39–32 after becoming just the third Sun Belt Conference program ever to reach the College World Series. 


Pitching Staff Silences Troy’s Explosive Offense 

One of the most impressive aspects of West Virginia’s victory was its ability to shut down one of the hottest offenses in the NCAA Tournament. 


Entering the game, Troy had scored 91 runs during postseason play and was averaging more than 10 runs per game. The Mountaineers completely neutralized that production. 


Junior starter Dawson Montesa led the effort, throwing 5.1 scoreless innings while allowing only two hits and striking out six batters. He consistently worked out of traffic and prevented Troy from building any offensive momentum. 


West Virginia’s bullpen continued the dominance. 


Ben McDougal, Reese Bassinger, and Carson Estridge combined to finish the four-hit shutout. Bassinger delivered one of the game's biggest performances, striking out five batters across two hitless innings and escaping a bases-loaded threat in the seventh inning. 


Mountaineers Break Through in the Third 

After two scoreless innings, West Virginia finally cracked the scoreboard in the third. 


Senior Matthew Graveline lined an RBI double into the gap to drive home the game’s first run. Moments later, a wild pitch allowed Graveline to score and extend the lead to 2–0. 


Although the advantage was modest, West Virginia’s pitching staff ensured it felt much larger. 


Troy starter Cooper Ellingworth battled through several early jams and struck out four batters over three innings, but the Mountaineers eventually capitalized on their opportunities. 


Kelly’s Home Run Opens the Floodgates 

The game’s turning point came during the sixth inning. 


With two outs and two runners aboard, Gavin Kelly stepped to the plate and launched a three-run home run, his 18th homer of the season. The blast extended West Virginia’s lead to 5–0 and completely shifted momentum toward the Mountaineers. 


Kelly’s homer highlighted a four-run inning that effectively put the game out of reach. 


Sean Smith later added an RBI single in the frame as West Virginia built a commanding six-run advantage. 


Kelly finished the afternoon with three hits and four RBIs, delivering one of the most impactful performances of the College World Series. 


Mountaineers Continue to Add On 

West Virginia refused to let up offensively. 


Ben Lumsden delivered an RBI single in the seventh inning to make it 7–0. The Mountaineers then erupted again in the ninth, scoring five additional runs to complete the rout. 


Brodie Kresser drove in a run with a sacrifice fly before Armani Guzman lined a two-run double. Kelly followed with another RBI single, and Paul Schoenfeld capped the scoring with a run-producing groundout. 


The late surge pushed the final margin to 12–0 and highlighted the depth of West Virginia’s lineup. 


Guzman Impacts the Game in Multiple Ways 

Armani Guzman once again played a critical role for the Mountaineers. 


The junior reached base four times, scored twice, drove in two runs, and stole three bases. His aggressive baserunning helped West Virginia establish pressure throughout the game. 


As a team, the Mountaineers stole seven bases, matching a College World Series single-game record. 


Matt Ineich also reached base four times and scored two runs as West Virginia consistently created opportunities on the bases. 


Troy’s Historic Run Comes to an End 

Although the season ended in disappointment, Troy completed one of the greatest years in program history. 


The Trojans went 7–3 during NCAA Tournament play after losing their regional opener. They rallied to win the Gainesville Regional, swept Little Rock in the program’s first-ever Super Regional appearance, and recorded their first College World Series victory by defeating Ole Miss earlier in Omaha. 


Several players added to their impressive individual accomplishments despite the loss. 


Jimmy Janicki recorded his 26th double of the season and finished the year among Troy’s all-time single-season leaders in RBIs, total bases, hits, and home runs. Steven Meier set the school’s career hit-by-pitch record, while Blake Cavill finished among the program’s all-time leaders in walks. 


West Virginia Advances 

The victory allowed West Virginia to continue one of the most successful seasons in school history. 


The Mountaineers improved to 47 wins and remained alive in Omaha, advancing to face North Carolina with a chance to force another meeting against the Tar Heels for a spot in the national championship series. 


After suffering a loss to North Carolina earlier in the tournament, West Virginia demonstrated resilience and responded with one of its most complete performances of the season. 


Final Takeaway 

West Virginia’s 12–0 victory over Troy was defined by dominant pitching, aggressive baserunning, and timely power hitting. The Mountaineers shut down one of the nation’s most productive offenses and received standout performances from Dawson Montesa, Gavin Kelly, and Armani Guzman. 



Troy’s remarkable postseason run came to an end, but the Trojans leave Omaha after achieving several historic milestones for the program. 


With the win, West Virginia stayed alive in the College World Series and continued its pursuit of a national championship. 

By Angelie Te July 31, 2026
Why Sports Video Production Matters in the World of 2026 Sports video production in 2026 covers far more than pressing record and capturing the final score. It spans live game broadcasts, tournament streaming, vertical social clips, recruiting reels, and sponsor activation content for schools, teams, leagues, and athletics organizations at every level. The job of a modern sports producer is to build year-round storylines, ensure sponsor visibility across every screen, and produce scout-ready assets that athletes and families can use for years. Consider the scale: global sports rights spending exceeded $67 billion in 2026 , and LiveU deployed 1,700 units for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to connect venues across North America. This industry momentum reaches every stage of competition, from youth travel tournaments to college showcases. Sports video production is considered challenging due to unpredictable action and lack of second takes-which is exactly why professional planning matters. The real goal of sports video production isn't just documenting what happened. It's creating content that works long after the final whistle.  East Coast Sports Live helps programs of all sizes compete with pro-level production quality without needing an in-house broadcast team. This article walks you through planning, filming, packaging, and distributing sports content designed to satisfy athletes, fans, and sponsors.
Tony Romo wearing a broadcast headset during a CBS Sports football game broadcast.
By Amber Aniston July 31, 2026
CBS placed Tony Romo on leave following his Wisconsin arrest, elevating J.J. Watt to its lead NFL broadcast team as the season approaches.
Harrison Bader in Yankees uniform during a game with a focused expression in a stadium.
By Amber Aniston July 31, 2026
Harrison Bader's season-ending scooter crash has raised questions about MLB contract rules, high-risk activities, and what comes next for the Giants outfielder.
By Amber Aniston July 31, 2026
Todd Bowles is keeping the Buccaneers focused on football despite Baker Mayfield's contract dispute and Vita Vea's trade request entering training camp.
FOOTBALL
By Amber Aniston July 31, 2026
FIFA's World Cup investment proposal has sparked opposition from major football confederations, with governance and transparency emerging as the central issues.
football player
By Amber Aniston July 30, 2026
Build a stronger 2026 fantasy football roster by understanding why drafting running backs early can create flexibility and long-term value in half-PPR leagues.
By Amber Aniston July 30, 2026
One of the most significant pieces of legislation in the history of college athletics is facing an uncertain future. The proposed Protect College Sports Act (PCSA) was designed to create a nationwide framework for regulating name, image and likeness (NIL), transfer rules, revenue sharing, and athlete eligibility. However, with the Big Ten and SEC withholding their formal support, lawmakers are running out of time to move the bipartisan bill through Congress before the Senate's August recess. The legislation has been viewed by many athletic directors and conference commissioners as the best opportunity to restore stability to an increasingly fragmented college sports landscape. But ongoing disagreements over several key provisions have placed its future in jeopardy. Why the Protect College Sports Act Matters College athletics has undergone dramatic changes over the past several years. NIL compensation, the transfer portal, athlete revenue sharing, and repeated court rulings have fundamentally altered how schools recruit, retain, and compensate student-athletes. The Protect College Sports Act was introduced to establish consistent national standards rather than leaving schools to navigate a patchwork of state laws and ongoing legal challenges. Among its major goals are: Creating uniform NIL regulations nationwide Standardizing transfer portal rules Establishing revenue-sharing guidelines Providing five years of athlete eligibility Giving conferences greater authority to enforce regulations Offering additional legal protections related to antitrust challenges Supporters believe the legislation could bring much-needed structure to college athletics after years of uncertainty. Why the Big Ten and SEC Have Not Signed Off Despite generally supporting federal legislation, the two most powerful conferences remain unwilling to endorse the current version of the bill. Conference leaders say several important issues remain unresolved, particularly language involving so-called "associated entities." These include corporate sponsors, multimedia rights partners, and outside organizations that could potentially direct additional compensation to athletes outside the proposed revenue-sharing cap. Big Ten and SEC officials argue that unless those loopholes are addressed, schools could effectively bypass spending limits, undermining the legislation's purpose.  Ohio State Athletic Director Ross Bjork summarized the conferences' position simply: "We need a ceiling." Revenue-Sharing Cap Remains the Biggest Obstacle Much of the debate centers on how athlete compensation would be limited. Current negotiations include a structure featuring: $21.3 million base revenue-sharing cap Approximately $20–22.5 million additional retention pool Up to $5 million designated for women's athletics Conference leaders support increasing athlete compensation but insist those figures must be paired with a truly enforceable hard cap. Without stronger safeguards, administrators worry schools could continue funneling money through outside partnerships while technically remaining under the cap. Time Is Becoming the Biggest Challenge Even if negotiators reach an agreement, Congress faces a rapidly approaching deadline. The Senate is scheduled to begin its month-long recess on August 7 , leaving only a narrow window for lawmakers to advance the legislation. Senate staff members have publicly acknowledged that every passing day reduces the likelihood of securing a floor vote before lawmakers leave Washington. Conference representatives and congressional staff have continued negotiating revised language, but formal approval from the Big Ten and SEC has yet to arrive. Lawmakers Say Major Concessions Have Already Been Made Congressional leaders argue they have significantly revised the proposal in response to conference concerns. According to reports included in the source material, lawmakers agreed to numerous requested changes, including: Stronger recruiting and tampering provisions Modified revenue-sharing language Changes involving conference governance Adjustments affecting NIL oversight Additional flexibility regarding institutional NIL agreements Despite those revisions, conference officials maintain they still need to review final legal language before committing their support. Conference Leaders Say They Need More Certainty Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti has repeatedly emphasized that conference officials cannot endorse language they have not fully reviewed. Rather than rejecting the legislation outright, Petitti has described the negotiations as an effort to ensure the final bill accomplishes its intended purpose. Conference officials also continue seeking broader antitrust protections and greater certainty regarding how future enforcement would work under the proposed law. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has similarly stated in recent weeks that congressional legislation remains the preferred outcome but acknowledged the conference has discussed alternative governance models if federal action ultimately fails. Alternative Plans Already Being Discussed If Congress cannot pass the Protect College Sports Act, college athletics may move toward alternative solutions. Among the possibilities currently under discussion are: Plan B Revising the current College Sports Commission structure Negotiating updated revenue-sharing rules among the Power Four conferences Creating stronger conference-led enforcement mechanisms Plan C A self-governance model led by the major conferences Independent enforcement of recruiting, NIL, and compensation rules Greater conference autonomy outside the existing NCAA structure Neither option is considered ideal by conference leaders, who continue describing federal legislation as the preferred long-term solution. Industry Remains Divided Not every stakeholder agrees with the conferences' position. Executives representing multimedia rights companies argue that legitimate endorsement agreements should not automatically count against athlete compensation limits. Others believe an overly restrictive cap could unintentionally reduce genuine commercial opportunities for student-athletes who have built valuable personal brands. That disagreement highlights the broader challenge facing lawmakers: balancing competitive fairness with athletes' growing opportunities to profit from their name, image, and likeness. What's Next? Negotiations between congressional leaders, the White House, and conference representatives remain ongoing. According to the latest reports, lawmakers submitted what has been described as a "best and final" revised version of the legislation to the Big Ten and SEC while asking both conferences to make their decision quickly. Whether that will be enough to secure their support remains unclear. For now, the Protect College Sports Act remains alive—but time is quickly becoming its biggest opponent. If an agreement cannot be reached before Congress begins its August recess, the effort to establish national standards for college athletics could be delayed for months, leaving schools, athletes, conferences, and fans to continue navigating one of the most uncertain periods in the history of collegiate sports.
By Angelie Te July 30, 2026
This article is a practical guide to sports sponsorship activation for brands, schools, athletic programs, and event organizers working around live sports coverage. Whether you run a booster club, manage athletic marketing for a district, or represent a company looking at sponsorship opportunities, the strategies here focus on live and streamed sports events rather than generic sponsorship theory. Target readers: brand marketers, athletic directors, booster clubs, school communications teams, and event organizers planning sponsor integration around streamed or televised games.
More Posts