Early dominance on the mound
Luke Harrison took the mound for the Longhorns Tuesday. Harrison began his day by striking out the side. Pitcher Dylan Vigue got the start for the Bulldogs and began his day with a strikeout to Aiden Robbins. Carson Tinney answered with a single up the middle (Tinney’s first of MCWS).
Anthony Pack reached first base on a walk to give Texas a base runner. Adrian Rodriguez flew out to center for the second out, but was able to advance Tinney to third (Pack stole third prior to the next pitch). Vigue battled back to strike out Ethan Mendoza for the final out of the inning.
After hitting Michael O’Shaughnessy with a pitch to start the top of the second, Harrison retired the next three Bulldogs in order, striking out two of them. Vigue had another stellar inning in the bottom of the second, retiring three of the four batters he faced and adding two more strikeouts to his total.
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Harrison stayed dominant in the top of the third, striking out the side once again. The Pitching duel continued in the bottom of the third as Vigue also struck out the side. Jackson led off the top of the fourth for Georgia and reached base on a walk. Lujo flew out for the second out (Jackson advanced to second due to the catch made by Larson was out of play). Harrison added another strike out, this time to O’Shaughnessy. Ishikawa reached first base due to a catcher interference call. The Bulldogs couldn’t take advantage as Wynn was sat down on strikes to end the top of the fourth.
Vigue had another 1-2-3 inning and added another strike out in the bottom of the fourth.
Bulldogs break the deadlock
Hudson walked to start the top of the fifth. Branch was able to advance Hudson to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Black grounded out for the second out of the inning, but was able to advance Hudson to third. Phelps was able to put a run on the board for the Bulldogs with a double to left, making the score 1-0 Georgia. Jackson grounded out to end the top of the fifth.
Texas threatens but falls short
Larson drew a walk to give Texas a base runner to open the bottom of the fifth. Following the walk, Georgia made a pitching changen to bring in Justin Byrd. Byrd began his day with a strike out to Borba for. the first out. Pendergrass advanced Larson to second with a sacrifice bunt. Robbins smoked a ball that was snagged by Phelps on the third base line for the final out of the inning.
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Following a ground out to Lujo, O’Shaughnessy walked to give Georgia a base runner. Ishikawa followed with a bloop to shallow left for a single to put runners at first and second. Harrison battled back with a strike out to Wynn for the second out. Hudson was able to reach base on a walk to load the bases, ending the night for Harrison. Pitcher Sam Cozart entered the game for the Longhorns and struck out Branch for the final out of the inning.
Tinney and Pack were both sat down for the first two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Rodriguez singled to right and was able to reach second thanks to a bobble from Black. Black redeemed himself during the next at-bat by recording the final out of the inning on a fly ball to keep the score 1-0.
Georgia adds insurance
Black singled on a ball that was dropped by Pendergrass in center to start the top of the seventh. Phelps singled in the following at-bat to put runners at first and third with no outs. Jackson was retired on strikes for the first out. Lujo flew out to shallow left but was able to score Black to extend the lead 2-0. O’Shaughnessy walked in the following at-bat to put runners at first and third with two outs. Ishikawa lined out for the third out.
Byrd retired the Longhorns in order in the bottom of the seventh. Cozart responded by striking out the side in the top of the eighth.
After a fly out from Josh Livingston (pinch hitting for Pendergrass) to open the bottom of the eighth, Robbins singled to left to bring the tying run to the plate.Following a strike out to Tinney, Pack reached base on a walk, putting runners at first and second with two outs. Unfortunately for Texas, Rodriguez grounded out for the final out of the inning.
After giving up a single to Black to open the top of the ninth, Cozart retired the next three Bulldogs in order, adding another strike to his total.
Byrd seals the victory for Georgia
Byrd finished off the Longhorns, retiring them in order —including another strikeout—to eliminate Texas with a 2-0 victory for the Bulldogs.
UGA moves on to face Oklahoma in the Bracket 2 finale. The Bulldogs will need to beat the Sooners twice to advance to the MCWS Championship, much like WVU will have to do against North Carolina.
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