It’s another big weekend at the Disch, but the Horns will have to beat the Bulldogs without Max Belyeu and may be without Adrian Rodriguez, as well.
This weekend, college baseball fans are in for a treat as the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs take on the No. 5 Texas Longhorns in a high-profile series. With both teams eventually set to angle for a spot in the College World Series, fans can expect a showcase of incredible talent this weekend at UFCU Disch Falk Field — the series promises high drama, stellar pitching performances, and offensive fireworks.
Here’s a closer look at what makes this series one of the biggest events on the baseball calendar this week.
Georgia: Strengths in hitting and pitching
Georgia enters the weekend with momentum, having established itself as one of the nation’s premier teams with a nine-game winning streak and 8-1 conference record that includes series wins over three ranked opponents, including on the road against No. 13 Florida in Gainesville.
Under the guidance of second-year head coach Wes Johnson, the Bulldogs have put together a balanced roster that combines powerful bats with a dominant pitching staff.
The offense has been led by several key players — Slate Alford, Robbie Burnett, and Ryland Zaborowski, who have been swinging hot sticks and regularly coming through in clutch situations. Georgia is slashing .324/.466/.629 slugging percentage leads the nation with 84 home runs, including 15 by Zaborwski and 14 by Burnett. The 327 runs scored by the Bulldogs this season rank second in the country.
“When they swing they hit the ball, and when they hit it, they hit it super hard and super far. So not a lot of the bunt game, they’ll steal some, there’s some guys in the team, they’ll steal some bases, but they’re literally built around power — which a lot of our teams in this league are — but they’re really, really good at it,” Schlossnagle said on Thursday.
On the mound, Georgia’s starting rotation has been solid, complementing with a deep bullpen, with the team’s series potential starters, Charlie Goldsteen, Brian Curley, and Leighton Finley, usually setting the tone for the Bulldogs every series. Georgia’s pitchers have the ability to control the game with consistency and with a reliable bullpen that can hold down tight games, making them a serious contender in any matchup.
Opponents are only batting .225 against Georgia, which boasts a 4.79 ERA and 1.36 WHIP.
“Their starting pitching hasn’t been awesome, but the bullpen has been amazing and they flipped some guys from the bullpen into the rotation. Wes Johnson has been one of the better pitching coaches, not just college baseball, but in our sport for a really long time, so, you know they’re going to figure that part out,” Schlossnagle said.
Texas: Power, precision, and clutch play
Texas, another powerhouse in college baseball, is no stranger to high-stakes matchups. Under first-year head coach Jim Schlossnagle, the Longhorns have built a team that can compete with the best, although Texas is coming off a disappointing 5-3 midweek loss to Texas State.
Their pitching staff is among the most respected in the country, featuring aces Luke Harrison, Ruger Rojas, and Jared Spencer, who can overpower opposing hitters, and a bullpen that has been solid in late-inning situations.
Texas will be without junior right fielder Max Belyeu, out with a fractured thumb, and may be without freshman third baseman/designated hitter Adrian Rodriguez for a fourth straight game, as Rodriguez is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report.
“Obviously, it’s not good that Max is out, but we’ve got to keep doing what we’re doing, stick to the process of things,” sophomore second baseman Ethan Mendoza said on Thursday.
With Belyeu out, sophomore Tommy Farmer moved to right field with a potential platoon developing between junior Jaydon Duplantier and sophomore Easton Winfield in left field.
“I was really excited about Gumbo or Jaydon Dupltanier the other night. He’s a good bunter, he actually swung the bat really well against our pitchers in the fall, he had a great swing the other night in the ninth inning off a good pitcher, so that was encouraging, because when he gets on base, then, especially if him and Farmer are back to back, then you’ve got guys that can run, do some things on the bases,” Schlossnagle said.
Because Belyeu was third on the team in slugging percentage with seven doubles and six home runs, Texas will have to find different ways to score without last year’s Big 12 Player of the Year in the lineup.
“I don’t think anybody on our bench is going to bring the dynamic power that and extra-base hit stuff that Max brings, so we have to find a way to play different kind of offense down in those spots,” Schlossnagle said.
If Rodriguez can’t play, he’s a key loss for the middle of a lineup that is already missing Belyeu’s power, putting increased pressure on junior shortstop Jalin Flores, junior catcher Rylan Galvan, and sophomore center fielder Will Gasparino, who has six home runs in the last five games and hit .553 with five home runs, 13 RBI, and a 2.188 OPS over the four games last week. Flores hit home runs in each of the first two games against Missouri, but is 2-for-10 in the last two games.
A series to remember
As Georgia faces off against Texas Longhorns, expect a weekend full of drama, intensity, and skill. This is more than just a regular-season series, this matchup carries significant weight for both teams. With postseason implications on the line, the winner of this series could improve their standing in the national rankings and gain an edge in seed placement for the tournament. The Longhorns and Bulldogs are gunning for a deep run in the postseason, and a strong performance this weekend will be a step toward that goal.
Expect both teams to rely heavily on their starting pitchers to set the tone for the weekend. The matchups will be a highlight with the relentless Bulldogs at the plate or the explosive Longhorn offense, but the offensive fireworks are sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats. With a lot at stake for both teams execution is key for both teams, this series is shaping up to be one of the most memorable of the season. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of one team or just a lover of great college baseball, this is one series you won’t want to miss.
First pitch on Friday is at 6:30 p.m. Central, followed by a 2 p.m. Central start on Saturday and 1 p.m. Central start on Sunday. All three games will air on SEC Network+.
Friday’s game is the fifth matchup in the all-time series between Texas and Georgia, the first meeting in Austin, and the first game between the two programs since they played twice in the 2004 College World Series, both wins by the Longhorns.
