Sunday’s super regional slate blessed college baseball fans with three down-to-the-wire matchups that put fans on the edge of their seats, wondering which team had a little more left in the tank.
In the midst of the chaos, there were three players who delivered the final blows, so emphatic that they punched their teams' tickets to the 2026 Men’s College World Series.
Check out which players stole the show.
Daniel Jackson hits go-ahead moonshot to send Georgia to MCWS
Tied 9-9 heading into extras, No. 3 Georgia needed a big moment in a big spot.
They were outscored by No. 14 Mississippi State 7-2 in the final three innings, holding on by a thread through Brennan Hudson’s tying RBI single in the ninth.
And in fitting fashion, star catcher Daniel Jackson lifted them back to the Men's College World Series for the first time since 2008, launching a go-ahead, two-run homer to put the SEC foe away, 11-9.
THE RHINO STRIKES IN EXTRAS 🦏 |
— Georgia Baseball (@BaseballUGA)
It was the second straight day of epic duels in the most thrilling super regional of this year's tournament, 'feeding the trees' behind Foley Field like clockwork. They combined for 45 runs and 21 homers, the most home runs in a super since BBCOR bats were adopted in 2011.
The two teams traded places from yesterday when it comes to offensive starts. UGA jumped out to a 7-2 lead by the end of the fifth, before Mississippi State exploded for five runs in the sixth and seventh, including back-to-back-to-back mashes to make it a one-run game. The explosive outing for Mississippi State was capped off by Jacob Parker in the eighth, crushing a go-ahead two-run home to give them a 9-8 lead.
Hudson fended off Mississippi State’s attempt to force a winner-take-all battle with his RBI single to tie it.
FIRE US UP HUDDY 😤
— Georgia Baseball (@BaseballUGA)
T9 | UGA 9, MSU 9 |
That’s when Jackson hit the moonshot, his 31st of the season, backpedaling slowly to first to make sure his work of art stayed fair. Foley Field was silent, waiting to see the ball trajectory. Head coach Wes Johnson rushed out of the dugout to do the same.
Moments later, Jackson began his home run trot as the stadium erupted. The only greater crowd pop was after Georgia secured the final out of the game later in the inning. ;
Georgia will play another SEC opponent, No. 6 Texas, next Saturday in the first round of the MCWS.
Owen Hull walks off Southern California to cap historic performance
Heading into the ninth inning on Sunday, No. 5 North Carolina found itself a similar spot as 365 days ago.
The Tar Heels were trailing by a run to a team out West at Boshamer Stadium with a winner-take-all game sitting between them and the Men’s College World Series. They lost to Arizona, 4-3, in 2025, and trailed Southern Cal, 3-2, on Sunday.
Owen Hull didn’t allow history to repeat itself, though, hitting a walk-off double to send UNC to the Men’s College World Series and wrap up his historic performance at the plate.
𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐍 𝐇𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐔𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐇𝐀
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels)
Carolina walks it off!! 🤯🤯
Game 3 was the definition of a pitcher’s duel, with both teams’ starters delivering high-level performances like rent was due. Trojan pitcher Andrew Johnson tossed 7.2 innings of work, only giving up two runs on four hits, and ACC Freshman of the Year Caden Glauber went 7.1 innings and struck out 11 in his third career start, surrendering three runs on six hits.
Cooper Nicholson and Carter French reached base in the ninth with one out, setting the table for Hull to win it.
Mobbed by his teammates immediately, Hull’s dagger was his fourth double of the game, the epitome of rising to the occasion.
Adrian Rodriguez shines again for Texas with go-ahead double
There was no bigger star offensively in Texas’ Game 1 victory over Oregon than Adrian Rodriguez.
The sophomore accounted for more than half of the Longhorns’ RBIs, going 2-for-3 and bringing in teammates in four different at-bats.
A day later, Rodriguez changed his title to ‘hero,’ lacing the go-ahead two run double down the left field line in the eighth inning — a hit eventually worth the program’s 39th appearance in the Men’s College World Series.
THE HORNS HAVE THE LEAD 🤘 |
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball)
The Ducks climbed their way back into the contest quietly, tacking on runs in four different innings to take a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh.
Rodriguez and the Longhorns regained the advantage in the top of the eighth. Sending eight players to the plate in the frame, the shortstop was sole RBI producer, doing it with two outs and the bases loaded.
Sending UFCU Disch–Falk Field into a frenzy, reliever Sam Cozart and the Longhorns rode the momentum for the last two innings to punch their ticket to Omaha.
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