Georgia vs. Oklahoma

OMAHA, Neb. (Interstat) — The Georgia Bulldogs and Oklahoma Sooners meet Monday in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship at Charles Schwab Field, a matchup of two teams riding dominant pitching performances into the College World Series.

Georgia (52-12) advanced by routing Texas 7-1 on Saturday behind a complete-game gem from right-hander Joey Volchko. The junior struck out 15, scattered four hits and did not allow an earned run over nine innings. Volchko, a 6-foot-2 flamethrower, has been electric in his last two starts, striking out 25 over 15 innings while yielding no earned runs. He also threw six shutout innings with 10 strikeouts against Long Island on May 29. For the season, Volchko leads a Bulldogs staff that has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of its last 10 games.

Georgia’s offense has been potent as well. In Saturday’s win, center fielder Rylan Lujo went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs, and left fielder Kenny Ishikawa drove in two runs. The Bulldogs have won six straight, including a 13-12 slugfest against Mississippi State on June 6 and an 18-2 blowout of Long Island on May 29. Georgia averages nearly nine runs per game.

Oklahoma (39-22) also enters on a high after blanking Alabama 9-0 on Saturday. Sooners ace Cord Rager tossed seven hitless innings, striking out eight. The left-hander has been nearly untouchable: In his last two outings – both wins – he has thrown 13 innings without allowing a hit and has 14 strikeouts. Rager also beat Kansas 8-1 on June 6, firing six hitless frames with six strikeouts. He has allowed only three earned runs over his last 19 innings.

Behind Rager, catcher Deiten Lachance homered and drove in two runs in Saturday’s win, and reliever LJ Mercurius worked two scoreless innings. Oklahoma has won four of its last five, including a 15-8 victory over Georgia Tech on May 31. The Sooners’ offense has been inconsistent but capable of outbursts, scoring 13 runs against Kansas on June 7.

First pitch is set for 7 p.m. EDT. The winner advances in the double-elimination bracket. Georgia holds a 52-12 record; Oklahoma is 39-22. Both teams rely heavily on their aces, and Monday’s game could hinge on which starter settles in first. Volchko and Rager have been dominant, setting the stage for a potential pitchers’ duel in Omaha.