Georgia sweeps Mississippi State, advances to College World Series for first time since 2008

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia is headed back to Omaha.

The third-seeded Bulldogs defeated No. 14 Mississippi State 11-9 in 10 innings Sunday at Foley Field, completing a two-game sweep of the Athens Super Regional and earning the program’s first trip to the NCAA Men’s College World Series since 2008.

Georgia (51-12) captured its fifth NCAA Super Regional title and improved to 5-1 all-time in super regional appearances. The Bulldogs also recorded their first-ever sweep of a super regional at home.

Junior catcher Daniel Jackson delivered the decisive blow in the top of the 10th inning, launching a two-run home run to give Georgia an 11-9 lead. The homer was Jackson’s team-leading 31st of the season.

Redshirt junior Justin Byrd closed out the victory in the bottom of the inning, striking out the final batter to send the Bulldogs to Omaha. Byrd (5-2) earned the win after pitching the final two innings and holding Mississippi State scoreless.

Georgia built an early advantage by scoring two runs in each of the first two innings before Mississippi State answered with a two-run homer in the second.

The Bulldogs continued to add to their lead over the middle innings. Senior Brennan Hudson hit his 21st home run of the season in the third inning, while senior shortstop Kolby Branch blasted solo home runs in the second and seventh innings for his 18th and 19th homers of the year, setting a new career high.

Mississippi State (43-19) rallied late, scoring seven runs between the sixth and eighth innings. The Bulldogs from Starkville hit five home runs in the game, including three consecutive solo shots in the seventh inning, and took a 9-8 lead into the ninth.

Georgia answered in the top of the ninth when Hudson singled home Ryland Ishikawa to tie the game at 9-9. Byrd then worked out of trouble in the bottom of the inning to force extra innings.

Graduate right-hander Caden Aoki started for Georgia and pitched 5 2/3 innings, striking out nine batters.

Georgia coach Wes Johnson praised his team’s resilience after the victory.

“I tell our guys all the time I think toughness gets a bad rap,” Johnson said. “You just saw a bunch of resilient guys, and you saw the fruition of all that work come through.”

Branch said the victory helped erase the disappointment of last year’s super regional loss on Georgia’s home field.

“That hurt on our home field,” Branch said. “Now that we got that third game, that second game, and now we are on to Omaha, it’s kind of a full circle moment.”

Jackson credited the team’s chemistry for its success throughout the season.

“The chemistry on our team, it’s hard to talk about,” Jackson said. “It’s just incredible.”

Georgia will travel to Omaha, Nebraska, for the College World Series, which begins June 12. The NCAA and ESPN are scheduled to announce the tournament bracket and game schedule Monday evening.