Longhorns Rally to Win SEC Series Over Bulldogs in Dramatic Comeback

AUSTIN, Texas — The No. 3 Texas Longhorns mounted a dramatic comeback on Saturday, scoring seven unanswered runs to secure a victory over the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs at UFCU Disc-Falk Field. The thrilling game saw the Longhorns rally from an early 4-0 deficit.

Head coach Jim Schlossnagle‘s team was led by sophomore designated hitter Jaquae Stewart, who hit a pivotal two-run home run in the fifth inning — his first homer in burnt orange — cutting Georgia’s lead in half.

The Bulldogs took control early, taking a 4-0 lead by the fourth inning, thanks to a series of mistakes from Texas’ defense and starting pitcher Luke Harrison. A two-out throwing error by junior shortstop Jalin Flores initiated the trouble in the first, leading to an unearned run. Georgia capitalized on Harrison’s struggles, including a balk and allowing two runs from a double and a fielder’s choice in the third inning.

Harrison eventually settled down, striking out nine batters — a career high — while relinquishing three earned runs and six hits throughout his outing. As he left the game after a two-out single in the sixth, the Longhorns were desperately looking to turn the tide.

The Texas lineup faced heightened challenges due to injuries to junior right fielder Max Belyeu and freshman third baseman Adrian Rodriguez. Bulldogs starter Brian Curley dominated much of the game, effectively using his mid-90s fastball against the Longhorns, who were often unable to adjust early on.

Texas broke through in the fifth inning when sophomore third baseman Casey Borba drew a seven-pitch walk, ultimately setting up Stewart’s explosive home run that injected momentum into the Longhorns’ struggle.

As the game advanced, the Longhorns mounted a decisive attack in the seventh inning, where they scored five runs. After leading off with a strikeout, the Longhorns demonstrated resilience with singles and took advantage of a pivotal misplay by Georgia’s right fielder in challenging wind conditions. Flores’ hit into center field allowed two runners to score, tying the game at four runs apiece.

Another walk issued to junior catcher Rylan Galvan primed the stage for sophomore center fielder Will Gasparino, who then laced a critical 2-2 fastball into the left-center gap. Gasparino displayed smart base running, advancing to third before a sacrifice fly from senior first baseman Kimble Schuessler added another run for Texas, pushing them ahead.

In the closing stages, junior right-hander Max Grubbs entered the game and sealed the win for the Longhorns, retiring all six batters faced in the final two innings to record his third win of the season.

The Longhorns look to sweep the series on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Central on SEC Network+.