Georgia Mounts Historic Comeback to Topple Top-Ranked Sooners
In a stunning turn of events at the SEC Softball Tournament in Lexington, Ky., the No. 9 seed Georgia Bulldogs orchestrated a historic comeback to defeat the top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners 10-5 in a quarterfinal matchup. The Sooners appeared to be in complete control, jumping out to a 5-0 lead after two innings. However, the Bulldogs' offense erupted in the fourth inning, plating five runs to tie the game, highlighted by three home runs from Jaydyn Goodwin, Gabi Novickas, and a game-tying three-run shot by Emily Digby.
Georgia wasn't done, rallying for three more runs in the sixth and adding two insurance runs in the seventh to score 10 unanswered runs against the nation's top team. The five-run comeback marked the largest in SEC Softball Tournament history. The star of the game was freshman pitcher Presley Harrison, who entered in relief in the first inning and delivered a masterful performance. Harrison pitched 6.2 innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out a career-high 10 batters to secure the win. The victory was Georgia's first over a No. 1 ranked team since 2021, when they also defeated Oklahoma.
The Bulldogs (38-17) advance to the SEC semifinals to face No. 4 seed Texas. The Sooners, who slide to 48-8, will now await their NCAA Tournament seeding. In other quarterfinal action, the Texas Longhorns secured their spot in the semifinals with a decisive 6-0 victory over the Ole Miss Rebels. Junior RHP Teagan Kavan was dominant for Texas, tossing a two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts.
QUICK HITS
- No. 11 Mississippi State Baseball Dominates No. 5 Auburn: The Diamond Dawgs made a statement in their series opener against Auburn, cruising to a 10-3 victory. Bryce Chance ignited the offense with a first-inning grand slam, his second of the season. Pitcher Tomas Valincius was overpowering, striking out 13 batters over 6.2 innings. Mississippi State racked up 16 hits in a dominant performance at Dudy Noble Field.
- Texas Baseball Announces Major Field Renovations: The Texas Longhorns will be getting a new playing surface at UFCU Disch-Falk Field this winter. The project aims to create a more neutral playing environment by removing the current crown on the field, which gives pitchers a significant advantage. The new turf is expected to play faster, similar to the surface at Tennessee, and will also feature a true warning track with a different feel to enhance player safety.
- Kentucky Basketball's Summer Trip to Jerusalem Canceled: The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team has canceled its planned summer tour to Jerusalem due to the ongoing conflict in the region. Head coach Mark Pope announced the change on social media and is now asking fans for suggestions for a new destination. Thanks to a new NCAA rule, teams are now permitted to take these international trips annually instead of once every four years, providing a valuable opportunity for new rosters to build chemistry.
- Missouri AD Launches 'Skyward' Initiative: University of Missouri Athletics Director Laird Veatch has launched a new YouTube series called "Skyward" to discuss the future of the department. The initiative comes as Mizzou focuses on significant investments in football and men's basketball to remain competitive in the evolving landscape of college athletics, while also aiming to support its other notable non-revenue sports.
- Texas Golfer Farah O'Keefe on Player of the Year Watch List: Texas women's golf standout Farah O’Keefe has been named to the watch list for the WGCA Player of the Year Award. O'Keefe, the 2026 SEC Golfer of the Year, is currently the No. 1 ranked player in women's college golf and has three victories this season.
PORTAL WATCH
The SEC transfer portal has been quiet over the last 12 hours, with no new entries or commitments to announce.
RECRUITING BUZZ
There have been no new football or basketball commitments across the Southeastern Conference in the past day.
GAMES TO WATCH
Friday, May 8, 2026
- Baseball: University of Texas at University of Tennessee - 11:30 AM (SECN+)
- Baseball: University of Kentucky at University of Florida - 11:30 AM (SECN+)
- Baseball: Vanderbilt University at University of Missouri - 12:00 PM (SECN+)
- Baseball: Texas A&M University at University of Mississippi - 12:30 PM (SECN+)
- Baseball: Auburn University at Mississippi State University - 1:30 PM (SEC Network)