COLUMBIA, Mo. — Brian Curley showed why he’s one of the most promising arms in the SEC Friday night, delivering a dominant seven-inning outing that silenced Missouri’s bats and propelled the ninth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs to a 9-2 victory in the series opener at Taylor Stadium.
With postseason seeding implications looming and a rowdy Missouri crowd hoping for a rare SEC win, Curley calmly went to work. The right-handed sophomore tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits, striking out six, and—most impressively—walking none. His command and poise on the mound provided the foundation for Georgia’s 37th win of the season and its 13th in SEC play.
“Brian was electric,” Georgia head coach Wes Johnson said after the game. “He had a couple of tight spots but never let it rattle him. That’s the kind of competitor you want leading off a weekend series.”
Curley wasted no time establishing the tone of the game. He worked a clean 1-2-3 first inning and never looked back, relying on a mix of mid-90s fastballs and devastating breaking balls that kept Missouri hitters guessing.
Only two Missouri players reached second base during Curley’s outing, both stranded. The Tigers, who entered the game riding a brutal 21-game SEC losing streak, simply had no answer for Georgia’s ace.
“His tempo, his location—it was all working,” catcher Fernando Gonzalez said. “I barely had to move the glove. Nights like that, my job is easy.”
The outing marked Curley’s longest start of the season and continued a trend of steady improvement from the hard-throwing righty, whose ERA now drops to 2.89.
Though Curley was the story of the night, Georgia’s offense eventually woke up and delivered plenty of fireworks.
After two scoreless innings, Nolan McCarthy broke the ice with a solo shot in the third inning—a towering blast over the left field wall that quieted the Missouri crowd and gave the Bulldogs a 1–0 lead.
“He just threw me a hanging slider,” McCarthy said. “I’ve been hunting that pitch for a while, and this time, I didn’t miss.”
In the sixth inning, Kolby Branch added his own solo home run—his third in as many games—to stretch the lead to 2–0. Branch has quietly become one of Georgia’s most productive hitters in SEC play, and his timely power once again paid dividends.
“I’m just seeing the ball well,” Branch said. “Coach Johnson always tells us to hunt our pitch, and when it’s there, let it fly.”
Georgia truly blew the game open in the top of the seventh. After singles from Henry Hunter and Slate Alford, followed by a walk to Robbie Burnett, the bases were loaded for Branch, who delivered again.
This time it was a rocket triple into the right-center gap that cleared the bases and gave Georgia a commanding 5–0 lead. The Bulldogs never looked back.
“I was just looking for something up to drive,” Branch said. “Luckily, I got one and made it count. It’s always a good feeling to break open a game like that.”
Missouri pulled starter Carter Rustad after Branch’s triple, but the damage was already done. Georgia tacked on four more runs in the ninth inning, thanks to a two-run homer from Slate Alford and a solo shot from Christian Adams, giving the Bulldogs their final 9–2 margin.
For Missouri, the loss was another painful chapter in what has become a historically rough SEC campaign. The Tigers have now dropped 22 consecutive conference games and are in serious danger of finishing winless in league play.
“They’re trying,” Missouri head coach Kerrick Jackson said. “But we just can’t seem to get the big hit or the key stop when we need it. That’s the frustrating part.”
Missouri did manage to scratch across two runs in the final two innings. Pierre Seals hit a solo home run in the eighth, and Jackson Lovich added a sacrifice fly in the ninth. But by then, the game was well out of reach.
The Tigers’ offensive struggles were most glaring against Curley, who faced just 25 batters over his seven innings and allowed only four base runners.
Friday’s win underscored an important development for Georgia heading into the postseason: a reliable Friday-night starter.
Throughout much of the season, the Bulldogs have been searching for consistency on the mound. While their offense has been among the best in the nation—currently top-10 in runs per game—their pitching has at times been hit-or-miss.
Curley’s emergence couldn’t come at a better time.
“Every team wants to know who they can trust in a must-win game,” Johnson said. “Curley is showing he’s that guy.”
Freshman reliever Landon Lee pitched the final two innings for Georgia, allowing two runs but preserving the lead with minimal trouble. His appearance gave the bullpen some much-needed rest, especially with two more games still ahead in the series.
The Bulldogs now sit at 13–9 in SEC play and continue to make their case for a top-eight national seed. With the SEC tournament on the horizon and regional hosting opportunities in play, every win counts—and a road win like this one only strengthens their resume.
“This is where we separate ourselves,” Gonzalez said. “Down the stretch, we want to show we can win tough games away from Foley Field. Tonight was a statement.”
Game two of the series is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. Eastern. Georgia will send sophomore lefty Cade Fisher to the mound, hoping to clinch the series and further bolster its postseason credentials.
With the SEC standings jammed in the middle and top, Georgia’s ability to win convincingly on the road speaks volumes. Teams that can dominate lesser opponents without playing down to their competition often go deep in June.
Curley’s performance also gives Georgia fans hope that they’ve found the Friday-night anchor necessary for a run to Omaha. The Bulldogs have the bats. Now they have the ace.
“If we keep playing like this,” Curley said with a smile, “we’re going to be a tough out for anybody.”
