Texas completes three-game sweep over Georgia with walkoff homer

AUSTIN, Texas – A solo home run by Rylan Galvan in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted fifth-ranked Texas to a dramatic 4-3 walk-off win over third-ranked Georgia on Sunday, completing a series sweep at Disch-Falk Field before a crowd of 6,974.

The Longhorns outlasted the Bulldogs in a tightly contested game that saw both teams trading blows. Texas outhomered Georgia four to three, despite the Bulldogs coming into the series leading the nation with 84 home runs. Notably, all three of Georgia’s home runs were solo shots, while all four of Texas’ blasts came with runners on base.

The Bulldogs fought back in the seventh inning when graduate Nolan McCarthy led off with a solo home run to tie the game at 3-3. It was McCarthy’s second home run of the series and his eighth of the season, matching his career high set last year in 58 games.

Earlier, Texas had broken a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning when junior Ryan Black delivered a two-out, solo home run, his fifth of the year. The Longhorns initially took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single. Georgia responded in the third, loading the bases with one out and scoring on a walk to Robbie Burnett to even the score.

Georgia briefly claimed a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning after junior Leighton Finley had retired 11 straight batters. Following a hit-by-pitch to Ethan Mendoza, Jalin Flores crushed the next pitch for a two-run home run.

Texas freshman left-hander Dylan Volantis (3-0) secured the win with a strong relief performance, pitching the final four innings and striking out eight. His season total now stands at 36 strikeouts in 28.1 innings. Brian Zeldin (1-1) took the loss for Georgia.

After the game, Georgia head coach Wes Johnson acknowledged the challenge of playing on the road and praised his team’s effort.

“It’s tough on the road and everybody knows that. Today was the game when you look back and say we played good baseball,” Johnson said. “We needed to get more hits; we had some chances. We pitched well. We played pretty good defense. We have to iron some things up at the plate. We’ll get back to work. We showed fight. We took some punches, and we lost today. It’s not easy. We’ll get back on the horse and get ready for Presbyterian on Tuesday.”

Georgia (29-5) will return to action on Tuesday at Foley Field against Presbyterian. First pitch is scheduled for 3:02 p.m. EDT, and the game will be streamed on SECN+.