Columbia
2-6
#23 West Virginia
9-3
No. 23 West Virginia Walks-off Columbia Baseball, 9-5, in 10 Innings
3/7/2026 5:20:00 PM | Baseball
Lions rally from a three-run deficit to force extras, but fall after walk-off grand slam
The Lions fell to 2-8 while the Mountaineers moved to 9-3. In the ninth inning, sophomore Ray Huke held off the Mountaineers, striking out Armani Guzman with two outs and two runners in scoring position to keep the Lions in the game. However, in the 10th inning, Brodie Kesser launched a walk-off grand slam to left field to secure the victory for West Virginia and even the series.
Huke delivered 2.1 scoreless innings, scattering three hits. Evan Kleinhans (1-1) took the loss after working the 10th.
Junior Jackson Brewer led the team offensively, going 2-for-4, with two RBI, marking his fifth straight game with a hit. Senior Jack Kail and sophomore Ben Fishel each tallied two hits as Columbia finished with nine in the afternoon.
West Virginia opened the scoring in the fourth when Armani Guzman lined an RBI single to right before Sean Smith scored on a double steal to give the Mountaineers their first lead of the game, 2-0. WVU added another in the fifth after Matthew Graveline reached on a throwing error to extend the lead, 3-0.
In the sixth, Columbia mounted its rally to get back into the game. Fellows ignited the charge with an RBI double to right center before the Lions capitalized on defensive miscues as Fishel reached on an error to plate Owen Estabrook, Charlie Slabaugh followed with a sacrifice fly, and Brewer drew a bases-loaded walk to complete the four-run surge and give the Lions their first lead of the afternoon.
West Virginia responded with two runs in the seventh to reclaim the lead, but Brewer came through again in the eighth with an RBI double off the wall in left that scored Hunter Snyder to tie things up at 5-5. Columbia nearly went back in front, but Jimmy Chadwell was thrown out at the plate to end the frame.
The Lions threatened again in the ninth when Kail notched a leadoff single, and Owen Estabrook launched a deep fly ball that a leaping Matthew Graveline caught to rob a home run and keep things knotted up.
West Virginia loaded the bases with one out in the 10th, and the Lions nearly escaped the jam after Kail fired home for a force out at the plate. However, Kresser took a 0-1 pitch over the wall to end the game.
David Perez (1-1) closed the game for West Virginia, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings while allowing two hits and striking out two to earn the victory.
UP NEXT
Columbia plays its final game of the series against No. 23 West Virginia on Sunday, March 8. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
FOLLOW THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia baseball, follow @CULionsBaseball on X and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Perez, David (1-1)
L: Kleinhans, Evan (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Fellows, Cole 1 ; Brewer, Jackson 1
RBI: Fellows, Cole 1 ; Brewer, Jackson 2 ; Fishel, Ben 1 ; Slabaugh, Charlie 1
SF: Slabaugh, Charlie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fellows, Cole 1 ; Estabrook, Owen 1 ; Fishel, Ben 1 ; Snyder, Hunter 1 ; Kail, Jack 1
HBP: Snyder, Hunter 1
Batting:
2B: Kelly, Gavin 1
3B: Kelly, Gavin 1
HR: Kresser, Brodie 1
RBI: Graveline, Matthew 1 ; Guzman, Armani 1 ; Kresser, Brodie 4 ; Wills, Brock 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Graveline, Matthew 2 ; Kelly, Gavin 2 ; Schoenfeld, Paul 2 ; Smith, Sean 1 ; Kresser, Brodie 1 ; Wills, Brock 1
SB: Guzman, Armani 1 ; Schoenfeld, Paul 1 ; Smith, Sean 1
CS: Ineich, Matt 1
HBP: Kelly, Gavin 1 ; Wills, Brock 1
