OMAHA, Neb. — Through three games at the College World Series, Georgia has experienced nearly every emotion postseason baseball can offer.
The Bulldogs opened their stay in Omaha with a dominant victory over Texas, suffered a heartbreaking one-run loss to Oklahoma, and then responded with another standout pitching performance to eliminate the Longhorns and keep their season alive.
After a 7-1 win over Texas on Saturday, a 4-3 loss to Oklahoma on Monday, and a 2-0 victory over Texas on Tuesday, Georgia enters Wednesday needing two wins over the Sooners to reach the College World Series finals.
Georgia’s postseason run began with one of the best pitching performances in program history.
Junior right-hander Joey Volchko threw a complete-game four-hitter against Texas, striking out a careerhigh 15 batters in the Bulldogs’ opening-round victory.
Volchko struck out the side in both the first and fourth innings and set a Georgia record for strikeouts in a College World Series game.
“I felt a lot of confidence and comfort with the game plan we came in with tonight,” Volchko said. “We had a very clear plan and executed.”
The Bulldogs gave him plenty of support. Sophomore center fielder Rylan Lujo launched a two-run home run off the left-field foul pole in the first inning as Georgia scored four runs in the opening frame. Lujo added an RBI double in the seventh before Kenny Ishikawa drove in two more runs with a single to cap the scoring.
The victory improved Georgia to 52-12, tying the school record for wins in a season.
“We got on the board early with Rylan’s home run, and then they had a couple of miscues in the first,” head coach Wes Johnson said. “Obviously, the story tonight was Joey and the way he commanded pitches and hit spots.”
Two days later, Georgia found itself playing from behind.
Oklahoma scored three runs in the first inning against starter Caden Aoki and held off several Bulldog rallies for a 4-3 victory.
Despite the rough start, Aoki helped preserve Georgia’s pitching staff by throwing a complete eight innings. The graduate right-hander allowed four earned runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking none.
“I thought Caden was awesome tonight,” Johnson said. “For him to finish the game for us was massive as you look forward and try to save your bullpen.”
Georgia chipped away throughout the game. Ishikawa hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, Brennan Hudson added a solo shot in the fifth and Daniel Jackson launched his team-leading 32nd home run in the eighth to cut the deficit to one.
The Bulldogs had chances to tie the game but could not deliver the timely hit, snapping a nine-game winning streak and falling into the elimination bracket.
Facing a must-win situation Tuesday night, Georgia again turned to its pitching staff.
Junior right-hander Dylan Vigue struck out eight batters over four scoreless innings before Justin Byrd finished a combined four-hit shutout in a 2-0 victory over Texas.
The win improved Georgia to 53-13 and established a new school record for victories in a season, surpassing the 52-win mark set by the 1990 national championship team.
With strong winds keeping the ball in the park, runs were difficult to come by. Georgia finally broke through in the fifth inning when senior third baseman Tre Phelps lined a double to score Hudson and give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
After striking out in his first two at-bats, Phelps stayed confident.
“Wes talked to us before the game and said no matter if you’re 0-for-5 or 5-for-5, I want to see you have fun,” Phelps said. “I kept that going after I was 0-for-2 with strikeouts.”
Vigue allowed only two hits and two walks before exiting in the fifth inning. Byrd entered with a runner on base and protected the lead the rest of the way, tossing five scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
“With the conditions and the flags blowing in like they were, we knew it was going to be a pitching duel,” Johnson said. “I thought Dylan came out and got us off to a really good start. Then Justin Byrd came in and attacked the strike zone, forced contact and early swings, and that was a key.”
Georgia added an insurance run in the seventh inning when Lujo’s sacrifice fly brought home Ryan Black.
The Bulldogs now face a difficult path to the championship series.
Georgia will take on Oklahoma at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday in another elimination game. To advance to the College World Series finals, the Bulldogs must defeat the Sooners on Wednesday and again on Thursday.