By: Michael Spiers

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

It has been a magical season in Wes Johnson’s first year as the Georgia Bulldog’s skipper.

His Georgia squad has shown all of the attributes required to succeed in the modern era of big-time college baseball; grit, toughness and heart.

After managing to clear every previous obstacle and overcoming the adversity that inevitably arises, the Dawgs’ season came to an end.

The Athens Super Regional of the NCAA baseball tournament culminated in a decisive Game 3 between No. 7 UGA and the No. 10 North Carolina State Wolfpack, held at Foley Field with a College World Series berth on the line.

This series had seen both teams dominate at different times, leading to the final, winner-take-all clash.

In Game 1, NC State’s offense exploded with an 11-run second inning, which set the stage for an 18-1 blowout over the Bulldogs. Georgia responded strongly in Game 2, taking an early lead and cruising to an 11-2 victory, evening the series and building anticipation for the finale.

In the winner-take-all Game 3, the drama was palpable. Georgia struck first with a two-run homer by Tre Phelps in the second inning, but NC State quickly responded.

The Wolfpack took the lead for good in the fourth inning after scoring three runs, including on a critical wild pitch that allowed Matt Heavner to score. Alec Makarewicz added to the lead with an RBI single, and NC State maintained control until the end.

Georgia attempted a comeback, scoring another run in the sixth to narrow the gap to 5-3, but NC State’s Eli Serrano III extended the lead with a home run in the seventh.

Serrano also made a crucial defensive play, robbing Georgia of a potential rally by making a leaping catch at the center-field wall in the same inning. The Bulldogs struggled to keep pace; despite scoring in the ninth inning with Charlie Condon’s nation-leading 37th home run, they couldn’t close the gap.

NC State’s offensive firepower was showcased throughout, with standout performances from Serrano, who went 3-for-4, and Makarewicz, who contributed three RBIs.

NC State’s Derrick Smith was instrumental in closing out the game, earning his eighth save of the season by retiring Phelps twice during critical moments.

The 8-5 victory sent NC State to the College World Series for the fourth time in the program’s history and capped a strong finish to their season, marked by 18 wins in their last 23 games.

They joined ACC counterparts Florida State, Virginia, and North Carolina in Omaha, tying the record for most ACC teams in a single year in the College World Series.

Meanwhile, Georgia, which had hoped to secure their seventh trip to the College World Series, saw their season end with a 43-17 record.

Despite the loss, Georgia’s season under first-year head coach Wes Johnson showed promise. The Bulldogs’ ability to force a decisive third game in the Super Regional highlighted their resilience and potential, setting a positive outlook for the future of their baseball program.

Ultimately, NC State’s balanced attack and timely defensive plays proved too much for Georgia, securing the final spot in the College World Series and capping a thrilling Super Regional showdown.

The Wolfpack advanced to face Kentucky in their opening game of the series in Omaha, carrying forward their late-season momentum and solidifying their status as one of the top teams in collegiate baseball this year.