Five people were taken to the hospital Saturday after strong winds ripped through a fan area during a rain delay at the Morgantown Super Regional NCAA baseball tournament game between West Virginia and Cal Poly.
West Virginia University police confirmed the five hospitalizations. Video from the scene showed winds reaching 40 mph tearing apart a tent, with one person flying through the air while trying to hold it down and another rolling uncontrollably down a hill.
The incident occurred in an area known as Randy's Ridge, located near the Kendrick Family Ballpark, where fans had gathered to watch the game. Other spectators scrambled for safety as the storm moved through.
West Virginia fan Keith Hill described the moment the wind hit. "I was just trying to hold my weight on the pole with the cement block, and then it started sliding, and then another guy joined in, and he's trying to hold another pole, and then a big gust of wind came," Hill told WAJR radio. "It just started sliding really hard, and people got caught up in the ropes and the poles."
According to CBS News, the storm also knocked out power for thousands of people across the nearby Pittsburgh area on Saturday afternoon.
West Virginia athletics spokesperson Michael Fragale addressed the injured fans in a statement. "We have been in touch with health-care providers in the area to ensure those affected are supported in their recovery," Fragale said.
Despite the disruption, the game resumed and West Virginia won 17-1, advancing to the College World Series for the first time in program history.
