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West Virginia Beats Troy 5-4, Steals Home First Since 2000

6/13/2026

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Summary

West Virginia Wins

West Virginia (45-15) beat Troy (38-30) 5-4 in the opening game of the 2026 College World Series on June 12 in Omaha.
Right fielder Armani Guzman stole home in the first inning, the first straight CWS steal of home since 2000.
Jimmy Janicki’s 20th season homer with two outs in the seventh tied the game at 5-5, after which Aaron Piasecki’s error on a ground ball secured West Virginia’s win.

Summary

West Virginia Debuts

A venue tent was blown over before the opening game, injuring five spectators.
West Virginia and Troy are each making their first College World Series appearance.
ESPN will air all 2026 CWS games and stream them on its app and Fubo.
ABC will broadcast Championship Game 2.
DraftKings lists West Virginia as a -210 favorite and Troy as a +3500 underdog for the opening matchup.

History

Historical Context

Since relocating to Omaha in 1950, the College World Series played at Rosenblatt Stadium until the new Charles Schwab Field opened in 2011, marking a modern era for the tournament. In 2026, temporary fan tents collapsed during West Virginia’s inaugural CWS game against Troy, injuring five spectators and exposing safety gaps at the renovated venue.

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West Virginia Wins

West Virginia (45-15) beat Troy (38-30) 5-4 in the opening game of the 2026 College World Series on June 12 in Omaha.
Right fielder Armani Guzman stole home in the first inning, the first straight CWS steal of home since 2000.
Jimmy Janicki’s 20th season homer with two outs in the seventh tied the game at 5-5, after which Aaron Piasecki’s error on a ground ball secured West Virginia’s win.

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