LEXINGTON, Ky. (Interstat) — Gavin Kelly hit two home runs and drove in three runs, but Kentucky rallied for three runs in the eighth inning to defeat West Virginia 11-9 on Saturday, May 30, 2026.

The Wildcats improved to 33-21, while the Mountaineers fell to 40-15.

Kelly’s first homer, a two-run shot in the third inning, cut Kentucky’s early 6-0 lead to 6-2. He added a solo homer in the sixth to pull West Virginia within 8-7. Tyrus Hall went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, including a double that tied the game at 8-8 in the seventh.

Kentucky built its lead in the first two innings. After West Virginia went down in order in the top of the first, the Wildcats scored four runs in the bottom half. Ethan Hindle singled in two runs and Braxton VanCleave followed with a two-run homer. In the second, Luke Lawrence doubled home a run and Hindle added an RBI fielder’s choice to make it 6-0.

West Virginia responded with two runs in the third on Kelly’s first homer, then scored three more in the fourth. Hall doubled in a run, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a balk. A hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded forced in another run, trimming the deficit to 6-5.

The Mountaineers tied the game in the fifth when a throwing error allowed a runner to score after a stolen base. Kentucky answered in the bottom of the fifth. A two-run single by Jack Jenkins gave the Wildcats an 8-6 lead.

Kelly’s second homer in the sixth made it 8-7. Hall’s RBI double in the seventh tied it again.

The decisive inning came in the bottom of the eighth. After a hit-by-pitch and a stolen base, a single and another hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. Lawrence singled in the tying run. Ben McDougal relieved Reese Bassinger, but Brown singled to drive in two runs, putting Kentucky ahead 11-8.

West Virginia scored an unearned run in the ninth on a fielding error, but a pinch hitter flied out to end the game.

Ian Korn pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for West Virginia, allowing no hits and two unearned runs while striking out two. Jack Bennett started for Kentucky and went four innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs with three strikeouts. Ira Austin, Jack Sams and Ben combined for 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for the Wildcats. Hindle finished 2 for 5 with three RBIs, and Lawrence was 2 for 5 with two RBIs.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of West Virginia 8, Kentucky 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave Kentucky a 55.00 percent probability to win. West Virginia was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of plus-1.5.