No. 13 WVU baseball completes epic comeback to beat No. 23 UCF

Matthew Graveline's walk-off single in the 9th inning caps a 9-run rally to force a rubber match on Sunday

Apr. 4, 2026 at 11:07pm

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Down 10-2 in the 6th inning, the West Virginia Mountaineers baseball team staged a remarkable comeback to defeat the 23rd-ranked UCF Knights 11-10 on a walk-off single by Matthew Graveline. The Mountaineers scored 9 unanswered runs in the late innings, including a 2-run single by Graveline in the 9th with the bases loaded, to complete the comeback victory and force a rubber match in the series on Sunday.

Why it matters

This win keeps West Virginia's undefeated series streak alive against UCF, a top team in the Big 12 conference. The Mountaineers showed incredible resilience to overcome a large early deficit, demonstrating the team's fighting spirit and ability to battle back from adversity. The comeback win also sets up an important rubber match on Sunday with conference implications on the line.

The details

After UCF built a 10-2 lead through 6 innings, the Mountaineers slowly chipped away at the deficit. Matt Ineich hit a 2-run homer in the 6th, Armani Guzman had an RBI single in the 7th, and Gavin Kelly drove in 2 more runs to make it 10-7 heading to the 9th. In the bottom of the 9th, Ineich reached on an error to score 2 more and make it 10-9, setting the stage for Graveline's game-winning hit with the bases loaded.

  • In the bottom of the 9th inning, with WVU trailing 10-9, Matthew Graveline came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs.
  • Earlier in the game, UCF had built a commanding 10-2 lead through 6 innings.

The players

Matthew Graveline

A West Virginia baseball player who hit the game-winning 2-run single in the bottom of the 9th inning to complete the Mountaineers' comeback victory over UCF.

Matt Ineich

A West Virginia baseball player who hit a 2-run home run in the 6th inning and reached on an error in the 9th to drive in 2 more runs and set up Graveline's heroics.

Armani Guzman

A West Virginia baseball player who went 3-for-5 at the plate and had an RBI single in the 7th inning to help fuel the Mountaineers' comeback.

Steve Sabins

The head coach of the West Virginia baseball team who praised his team's resilience and fight in overcoming the large early deficit to defeat UCF.

Maxx Yehl

The West Virginia starting pitcher who struggled, allowing 7 hits and 5 earned runs in 4 innings, but kept his team in the game early on.

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What they’re saying

“I'm always ready. You have to be ready to get up to the plate and get the job done... I figured he was going to go back to the heater to challenge me, especially with the bases loaded. Can't walk the tying run in. Just got a good pitch to hit. Put a good swing on it.”

— Matthew Graveline

“Exciting win. I thought the staff, the players, everybody just stayed connected. It's easy to say that when you lose, but it's obviously evident when you win, and you have such a large comeback. Can't do that without people just being focused and intentful and continuing to fight.”

— Steve Sabins, Head Coach

“When Matty (Ineich) first hit it, I thought it was a homer. But then I remember we play at the Ken and the wind blows all the time. My job at third was just to tag. Kelly did a good job at second base, freezing, reading the play. Paul did a great job, as well, going as far as he could. Base running-wise, I thought we executed really good. We kind of caught a break in that moment. Things hadn't gone our way, and that was huge.”

— Armani Guzman

What’s next

The rubber match between No. 13 West Virginia and No. 23 UCF is scheduled for Sunday at noon and will be streamed on ESPN+. The winner will take the series and gain an advantage in the Big 12 conference standings.

The takeaway

This thrilling comeback victory showcases the fighting spirit and resilience of the West Virginia baseball team. After falling behind early, the Mountaineers refused to quit and methodically chipped away at the deficit, culminating in a dramatic 9th inning rally capped by Matthew Graveline's game-winning hit. This win will give the team a major confidence boost as they look to clinch the series against a top Big 12 opponent in the rubber match on Sunday.