ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia rallied to beat Mississippi State 11-9 in 10 innings Sunday at Foley Field, advancing to the College World Series. The Bulldogs’ season ended at 43-19, one win shy of Omaha.
Georgia, ranked No. 3, built an early 7-2 lead through five innings. Kolby Branch homered twice, and Brennan Hudson drove in two runs to help the Bulldogs establish their lead.
Mississippi State mounted a comeback beginning in the sixth. Vytas Valincius homered in the sixth, and Bryce Chance added an RBI single. The Bulldogs then hit three consecutive solo shots in the seventh from Ace Reese, Noah Sullivan, and Jacob Parker to cut the deficit to 8-7.
In the eighth, Mississippi State took the lead with a two-run homer from Parker and an RBI double from Reese, making it 9-8. Georgia tied it in the ninth, when Kenny Ishikawa walked and Brennan Hudson singled to bring in a run. The Bulldogs regained the lead in the 10th on Daniel Jackson’s two-run homer after Tre Phelps reached on an error.
Mississippi State finished with 14 hits, including six home runs. Parker went 2-for-6 with two homers and three RBIs, Reese was 3-for-6 with a double, homer and two runs scored, and Sullivan added two hits and a solo homer. Valincius also homered and scored twice.
Starting pitcher Ryan McPherson allowed four runs in 1 1/3 innings. Duke Stone pitched 5 2/3 innings in relief for Mississippi State, striking out five. Georgia’s Justin Byrd earned the win with two hitless innings, and Caden Aoki started for the Bulldogs, striking out nine over 5 2/3 innings.
Georgia will face the winner of the Starkville regional in Omaha. The Bulldogs’ season concludes with a 43-19 record.
