Volchko Powers Georgia Past Texas in CWS Opener

Georgia’s long-awaited return to the College World Series featured a performance Bulldogs fans will remember for years.

Junior right-hander Joey Volchko delivered a complete-game masterpiece Saturday night, striking out a career-high 15 batters as Georgia defeated Texas 7-1 at Charles Schwab Field. The victory moved the Bulldogs to 52-12 on the season, matching the school record for wins set by Georgia’s 1990 national championship team.

Volchko was dominant from the outset. The right-hander struck out the side in the first inning and repeated the feat in the fourth as Texas struggled to generate any consistent offense. By the end of the night, Volchko had allowed just four hits while recording the most strikeouts by a Georgia pitcher in a College World Series game.

It marked Georgia’s first nine-inning complete game of the season and the program’s first complete game at the College World Series since Mike Rebhan accomplished the feat twice during the Bulldogs’ championship run in 1990.

Georgia gave its ace plenty of support early. Sophomore center fielder Rylan Lujo provided the game’s first big swing in the opening inning, launching a two-run home run off the left-field foul pole after Tre Phelps drew a leadoff walk. The homer, Lujo’s 14th of the season, gave the Bulldogs a quick 2-0 lead.

The Bulldogs continued to apply pressure in the first inning, taking advantage of Texas miscues to stretch the lead to 4-0. The Longhorns committed two errors and were hurt by a pair of wild pitches and two hit batters as Georgia seized control of the game before Texas could settle in.

With the early cushion, Volchko attacked the strike zone throughout the night and never allowed the Longhorns to mount a serious threat. Texas eventually scratched across its only run, but Georgia put the game away in the seventh inning.

Lujo came through again with an RBI double, and Kenny Ishikawa followed with a two-run single to cap a three-run frame that pushed the Bulldogs’ lead to 7-1. The offensive outburst was more than enough for Volchko, who finished off the complete game and sent Georgia into the winner’s bracket.

The win continued a season-long trend for the Bulldogs’ pitching staff. Georgia has now held opponents to three runs or fewer 31 times this season. Head coach Wes Johnson called Volchko’s effort one of the most impressive performances he has witnessed. 

“Obviously, the story tonight was Joey and the way he commanded pitches and hit spots,” Johnson said.

The Bulldogs will now turn their attention to Oklahoma, which opened its College World Series run with a 9-0 victory over Alabama. Georgia and Oklahoma are scheduled to meet Monday at 7 p.m. ET, with a spot in the bracket final hanging in the balance.