The Georgia Bulldogs erupted in extra innings on Saturday, outlasting Mississippi State 11‑9 to capture the Athens Super Regional and lock in their first appearance at the NCAA Men’s College World Series since 2008.
A historic night for the Bulldogs
Junior catcher Daniel Jackson delivered the decisive blow, launching a two‑run homer in the top of the tenth that swung the lead to 11‑9. The blast capped a rally that had seen the Bulldogs chip away at a deficit built by Mississippi State’s early fireworks.
On the mound, graduate pitcher Caden Aoki set the tone with 5.2 solid innings, striking out nine and keeping the Bulldogs in contention. Reliever Justin Byrd then shut the door, tossing two perfect frames and fanning two batters to preserve the lead.
The offensive onslaught began early, with Georgia plating two runs in each of the first two innings. Senior Brennan Hudson contributed a timely RBI single in the third, while Kolby Branch added solo homers in the second and seventh to reach 18 and 19 season homers respectively.
Mississippi State answered with a two‑run homer in the bottom of the second and later surged with seven runs across the sixth through eighth innings, fueled by five long balls. Yet Georgia’s resilience shone as Hudson’s ninth‑inning single tied the game at nine, sending it into extra innings.
Relief pitcher Justin Byrd’s final two innings not only secured the win but also kept the Bulldogs’ sweep hopes alive, a narrative that now shifts to Omaha.
Road to Omaha
The Bulldogs will travel to Omaha, Nebraska, where they will join the nation’s elite from June 12‑22. The College World Series schedule will be announced Monday after 7 p.m. ET by the NCAA and ESPN, a moment that will shape the bracket for the upcoming showdown.
Fans and alumni alike are already marking their calendars, eager to see whether Georgia can translate this dramatic Super Regional triumph into a national championship run.