It’s been a wild weekend, honestly. You know how some games just blow the roof off with insane scoring and clutch moments? Yeah, that was definitely the vibe.
Starting off west in Eugene, Oregon, Arizona crushed it. I mean, they didn’t just win, they demolished Cal Poly 14-0. And a big reason for that? Aaron Walton went absolutely beast mode with three home runs. Yep, three! I don’t even think I’ve seen that kind of power display in a minute. The dude drove in six runs, basically carrying the Wildcats on his back. It wasn’t just him, though. Maddox Mihalakis chipped in with two homers of his own and knocked in three runs. And then there’s Tommy Splaine, who wasn’t about to be left out of the party, smacking a two-run homer and adding three RBIs.
What really caught my eye here was how this wasn’t some one-off. Walton is the second Arizona player to hit three home runs in this regional tournament. Mason White did it the day before against Utah Valley. Can you imagine? Two different guys are hitting three dingers in back-to-back games. That’s some serious firepower. Arizona is headed to the Super Regionals again, marking their sixth time advancing that far. They’ve got a pretty solid record there too 4 wins and only 1 loss previously. So, if you’re betting on who’s gonna keep this momentum rolling, Arizona’s looking like a pretty safe bet.
Then, flipping over to the East Coast, we had a heck of a nail-biter at Clemson. West Virginia and Kentucky duked it out in what turned into a 13-12 thriller. Talk about a slugfest! West Virginia pulled off the win thanks to a clutch six-run rally in the eighth inning. The hero of that rally? Armani Guzman who came through with a two-out RBI single to seal the deal. Guzman was all over the place that game four hits, three RBIs, definitely the guy you want stepping up in crunch time.
Ben Lumsden was no slouch either, knocking in four runs, and Gavin Kelly added three RBIs to keep the pressure on Kentucky. Oh, and let’s not forget Logan Suave, who managed to hammer a solo homer and drove in two runs overall. It was a team effort all around.
What makes this story a bit sweeter for West Virginia fans is that this is their second straight trip to the super regional. They won their first ever regional just last season, which is pretty crazy for a program that’s been under the radar for a while. Steve Sabins, their coach, is just in his first year leading the team after spending nine years as an assistant and associate head coach under Randy Mazey. Mazey retired after 12 seasons, so you can imagine Sabins had some big shoes to fill. But man, he’s doing a solid job so far.
Honestly, it’s kind of inspiring to see how West Virginia’s program has been quietly building itself up and now suddenly making waves. It’s the kind of story that makes you root for the underdog a bit like, they’re not just here to make up numbers, they’re legit contenders now.
Back to Arizona for a sec it’s wild to think about how dominant their bats have been. Three home runs from two players in the same regional? That’s a power display that gets you thinking maybe they could go all the way. I mean, postseason baseball is always unpredictable, but when you see a team hitting the ball out of the park like that, you gotta take notice. And the 14-0 scoreline? That’s not just a win, that’s a statement. Shutting out a team in a regional final like that means their pitching and defense were locked in too. Baseball is such a funny game because sometimes it’s all about offense, but other times the pitchers are the real MVPs. Arizona had both on point that day.
Meanwhile, the West Virginia-Kentucky game had all the drama you could ask for. I mean, a one-run game decided in the eighth inning with bases loaded? That’s the baseball theater right there. Those moments stick with you. Fans were probably on the edge of their seats, heart racing, every pitch counting like it was the World Series.
Also, gotta mention how these college teams often don’t get enough hype compared to the pros. But the passion and energy? Off the charts. These players are pouring their hearts out with dreams of making it big. And coaches like Sabins who climb the ranks and then lead their team to new heights? That’s the kind of stuff that makes college sports special.
So, what’s next? Both Arizona and West Virginia are moving on to the super regionals, which is basically the penultimate step before the College World Series. Arizona’s got the history and momentum, West Virginia has that underdog fire and recent success should be some great matches coming up.
Honestly, I’m just looking forward to seeing more of these players stepping up, more clutch hits, and maybe some surprise heroes emerging. Baseball always has a way of throwing curveballs, figuratively and literally, so the super regionals should be a blast.
Anyway, that’s the latest from the college baseball world. If you’re a fan, it’s a good time to tune in and catch some of these games trust me, they’re way more exciting than you’d think. And if you’re not a fan yet? Well, this might just be the perfect moment to start paying attention. You won’t regret it.
