FINAL
Georgia - 1
Texas - 5
BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: Jared Spencer (4-1)
Losing Pitcher: Charlie Goldstein (0-1)
Save: Dylan Volantis (7)
RECAP
In the Top 1st, LHP Jared Spencer was on the mound and sat the Bulldogs down in order needing just 9 pitches to do so, flashing a 97mph fastball and 87-89mph slider.
In the Bottom 1st, the Horns would get a 2 out walk from C Rylan Galvan but could not do anything else offensively.
In the Top 2nd, Spencer retired the side in order again, using his devastating slider to get the third out.
In the Bottom 2nd, the Horns got a 1 out walk as 3B Casey Borba put together a very mature at bat, but once again they would come up empty.
In the Top 3rd, Jared Spencer retired the side in order again for the third time, this time racking up a pair of strikeouts.
In the Bottom 3rd, the Horns likewise were retired as Georgia starter Charlie Goldstein mixed his pitches really well and used his secondary stuff to keep the Horns off kilter.
In the Top 4th, Jared Spencer needed just 6 pitches as he retired the side in order to keep the hottest hitting in the nation at bay.
In the Bottom 4th, there were goose eggs on the scoreboard. Goldstein and Spencer were in a good ol fashioned pitchers dual.
Junior Catcher Rylan Galvan, not even a week after nearly fracturing his index finger after a bunt foul caught his bare hand stepped to the plate. After working the count to 3-1, Galvan got a pitch over the plate and hit it through the left side for a lead off single for the first hit of the game.
After Will Gasparino flied out to CF, Galvan decided to make things happen. He ended up stealing 2B and 3B to put a runner just 90ft away with only one out. Kimble Schuessler then came through with a clutch hit down the LF line for an RBI double to put the Horns ahead.
Not finished there, 3B Casey Borba immediately followed Kimble's RBI double with 2 run to LF to make it 3-0 Horns. The Horns would load up the bases as Jaquae Stewart hit a double to the gap in right CF, followed by a Tommy Farmer walk. Ethan Mendoza then drew a walk after a Jayden Duplantier strikeout to load the bases. Unfortunately, Jalin Flores struck out leaving the bases loaded.
In the Top 5th, the Bulldogs finally got their first hit of the game as Jared Spencer gave up a 1 out single up the middle. After getting another strikeout, Spencer then issued back to back walks to load the bases. Spencer did not back down though and got the 9 hole hitter and former Baylor transfer Kolby Branch to pop up to Jalin Flores to end the threat and keep the Horns up 3-0.
In the Bottom 5th, C Rylan Galvan led off the inning with a walk, bringing one of the hottest bats to the plate. Will Gasparino stepped to the plate and for the 7th time in the last 6 games hit the big fly, this time a two run home run to LF to make it 5-0 Horns.
In the 6th inning, Jared Spencer again sat the Dawgs down in order and in turn the Georgia bullpen sat the Horns down in order.
In the Top 7th, Georgia finally got their second hit of the game and first run of the game as Nolan McCarthy hit a changeup to LF for a solo bomb to make it 5-1 Horns. Jared Spencer bounced back with a ground out and back to back strikeouts to immediately erase any thoughts of a big inning.
In the Bottom 7th, Georgia pitcher Eric Hammond retired the side in order, racking up back to back strikeouts.
In the Top 8th, LHP Jared Spencer was back on the mound, having thrown 91 pitches on the night. After getting a strikeout, his 11th of the night, and then getting a ground out, Spencer gave up back to back walks, leading Jim Schlossnagle to go to the bullpen to bring in freshman LHP Dylan Volantis who got the hottest hitter in the nation Zaborowski out on a fielder's choice, in which Jalin Flores showed off incredible range and defensive skills to get the lead runner at 3B and preserve the Horns 5-1 lead.
In the Bottom 8th, Texas got a 1 out walk by Tommy Farmer, but were unable to get any insurance.
In the Top 9th, Dylan Volantis was back on the mound and gave up a lead off single, but bounced back to get a strikeout and then a double play to end the game and give the Horns a 5-1 win over the #3 team in the nation.
The 5-1 win by the Horns was the fewest runs scored by Georgia this season.
BIG MOMENT
In the Bottom 4th, there were goose eggs on the scoreboard. Goldstein and Spencer were in a good ol fashioned pitchers dual.
Junior Catcher Rylan Galvan, not even a week after nearly fracturing his index finger after a bunt foul caught his bare hand stepped to the plate. After working the count to 3-1, Galvan got a pitch over the plate and hit it through the left side for a lead off single for the first hit of the game.
After Will Gasparino flied out to CF, Galvan decided to make things happen. He ended up stealing 2B and 3B to put a runner just 90ft away with only one out. Kimble Schuessler then came through with a clutch hit down the LF line for an RBI double to put the Horns ahead.
That his and run scored gave the Horns the confidence they needed as they would end up plating three runs in the inning to go up 3-0.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
LHP Jared Spencer set career highs in strikeouts, innings pitched, and pitches thrown en route to a victory over the #3 team in the nation, a team that leads most offensive categories in the NCAA.
Spencer's final line was 7.2 IP, 2 Hits, 1 Run, 4 Walks, 11 Strikeouts. He threw 111 pitches, 70 of them for strikes.
TAKEAWAYS
BIG time win. Jared Spencer was absolutely electric with a slider that was nasty. Of the 11 batters he struck out, 8 of them were on the slider tonight. In addition to a big time performance, the Texas batters in the middle and bottom of the lineup did a great job to contiuining to put in solid at-bats, even if they didn't have a ton to show for it at times. Dylan Volantis again was great out of the pen and allowed the Horns to use just two pitchers, which really sets them up for the rest of the weekend as well.
Overall, the Horns are 9-1 in conference and now have two games to win a series over the #3 team in the nation. Tip of the cap to the players and huge round of applause to the coaches. Having an elite staff MATTERS!
NEXT UP
The Horns (24-4, 9-1 SEC) will look to take the series against Georgia (29-3, 8-2 SEC) tomorrow at 2pm CT
