OTF Premium CWS Elimination Game: Texas vs. Georgia | 7 p.m., ESPN

[Jeff Howe]

After eliminating Alabama in yesterday’s 14-2 rout in Omaha, Texas gets another crack at Georgia with the season on the line. The Longhorns suffered a 7-1 loss to the Bulldogs in their CWS opener on Saturday, but Adrian Rodriguez hit for the cycle and Ruger Riojas had six solid innings on the mound to get Texas (46-14) to today’s elimination game against Georgia (52-13), which lost its winner’s bracket game against Oklahoma on Monday, 4-3.

***

Texas is giving the ball to Luke Harrison (6-3, 4.29 ERA) for tonight's elimination game. Jim Schlossnagle mentioned after Monday's win over Alabama that he liked the Longhorns getting through two games without having to use Harrison, Sam Cozart or Thomas Burns, while Brett Crossland only went 0.2 innings and threw 14 pitches against Georgia on Saturday and didn't pitch against the Crimson Tide.

Other than Riojas and (presumably) Dylan Volantis, Texas has every arm it would otherwise want to use available to go against the Bulldogs.

Georgia will counter with Dylan Vigue (4-1, 4.73 ERA), who has struck out 69 batters in 59 innings, walking 34 and hitting 11, with 12 of his 48 hits allowed going for extra bases (seven doubles and five home runs). Vigue had a 2.63 ERA after going six innings against Florida on April 11, but he's struggled since leaving an April 17 start against Arkansas with forearm tightness.

Since then, Vigue has allowed 24 hits and 19 earned runs in 16 innings.

The good news for the Bulldogs is that with Joey Volchko and Caden Aoik going the distance against the Longhorns and Sooners respectively, Wes Johnson has a full complement of arms to bring out of the bullpen if Vigue gets in trouble.

 

[Jeff Howe]

Another do-or-die game in Omaha for the Longhorns.

[Jeff Howe]

Highlights from yesterday’s win over Alabama:

 

[Jeff Howe]

Georgia has only used two pitchers through two games. Joey Volchko went the distance against Texas and Caden Aoki did the same against OU:

 

[Nikolas24]

Only using 2 pitchers so far is impressive 

[UTexas]

When will the starting pitchers be announced? Guessing Texas will be starting Harrison. Wonder who UGA will go with.

[tfoster40]

Who do you think starts for Georgia tonight?

[Longhorn22]

Does Luke Harrison throw tonight?

[Jeff Howe]

31 minutes ago, Longhorn22 said:

Does Luke Harrison throw tonight?

Yes, barring something completely unforeseen.

[Jeff Howe]

56 minutes ago, tfoster40 said:

Who do you think starts for Georgia tonight?

Either Dylan Vigue or Zach Brown with a very short leash for whoever starts.

[harveycmd]

Georgia sites are saying Vigue is likely to start for the dogs.

[Jeff Howe]

59 minutes ago, UTexas said:

When will the starting pitchers be announced? Guessing Texas will be starting Harrison. Wonder who UGA will go with.

Usually about two hours before first pitch, if it doesn’t leak before then.

[Hookem1012]

Play good defense and put the ball in play. It’s all you can really ask for.

[PaulieD]

16 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

Either Dylan Vigue or Zach Brown with a very short leash for whoever starts.

Not sure why they had the two starters go the distance.  Put a few innings in your back pocket?

[EHoff99]

Oklahoma beating Georgia was good in my opinion because I think we have a better chance of beating Oklahoma twice than Georgia. We'll see how tonight goes.

[CJ Vogel]

2 minutes ago, EHoff99 said:

Oklahoma beating Georgia was good in my opinion because I think we have a better chance of beating Oklahoma twice than Georgia. We'll see how tonight goes.

I think you are right as well.

Even with as red hot OU has been.

[Jeff Howe]

The word is getting out. Georgia is going with Dylan Vigue against Luke Harrison.

[Jeff Howe]

 

[Jeff Howe]

Let's hope they saved some for today!

[BornOrange]

We are going to F them up

[Uthookem4800]

@Jeff Howe how good is Dylan Vogue

[Jeff Howe]

 

[Jeff Howe]

41 minutes ago, Uthookem4800 said:

@Jeff Howe how good is Dylan Vogue

He's got pretty good stuff. He's struggled since leaving a start against Arkansas in April with forearm tightness. I would expect the leash to be very, very short.

[NoDakHornsFan]

Is it fair to say Texas will look to save Cozart for tomorrow unless he’s absolutely needed late?

[Jeff Howe]

Just now, NoDakHornsFan said:

Is it fair to say Texas will look to save Cozart for tomorrow unless he’s absolutely needed late?

Schloss and Max Weiner will do whatever it takes to win the game tonight. The goal is to get the ball to Cozart.