Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Georgia vs Vanderbilt Final Score: Commodores Take Game One
Georgia pitcher Brian Curley (7) gets set to throw a pitch during a NCAA baseball game against Arkansas in Athens, Ga., on Friday, April 11, 2025. Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Georgia could not get anything going at the plate as Vanderbilt wins the series opener 3-1.

Slate Alford stepped up to the plate and crushed a leadoff home run to give the Bulldogs an immediate 1-0 lead. 

Things were extremely quiet following Alford’s home run, as neither team scored another run until the seventh inning. 

Georgia’s Brian Curley and Vanderbilt’s JD Thompson were magnificent on the mound in this pitcher’s duel. Thompson pitched 8 innings, allowing just one run and striking out 14. After Alford’s leadoff homer, the Bulldogs could not find any offense against Thompson. 

Brian Curley put together the longest start by a Georgia pitcher so far this season. Curley pitched 6 innings of one run, eight strikeout baseball. 

Curley had allowed just one hit in the game heading into the seventh inning when Brodie Johnston crushed a lead-off homer to tie the game. Vanderbilt would go on to take the lead later in the seventh with an RBI infield single from Colin Barczi.

Vanderbilt added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI single from Braden Holcomb. 

This article first appeared on Georgia Bulldogs on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

 Reported Micah Parsons Trade Cost Leaks
General Sports

Reported Micah Parsons Trade Cost Leaks

Micah Parsons wants a trade out of Dallas, but the team has no intention of honoring that request. Now entering the final year of his rookie contract, the former first-round pick has established himself as one of the game’s premier talents at his position. Since entering the league, the edge defender has recorded 52.5 sacks, 256 tackles, 112 quarterback hits, four Pro Bowls, and two First-Team All-Pro honors. Based on his age and performance history, he could easily reset the market for pass rushers, but Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seems unwilling to hand out that type of money. However, they also don’t want to send a star player off to a new organization. While the team has publicly said they refuse to trade him, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the team could send Micah Parsons away if they receive a “Hershel Walker-sized” return. Cowboys Micah Parsons Trade Price Leaks For those unfamiliar with the reference, the Hershel Walker trade was one of the most lopsided deals in history. In October of 1989, the Cowboys sent running back Hershel Walker and three draft picks to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for five players and six draft picks, including three first-round picks. Dallas used these selections to build the core of their three Super Bowl-winning squads in the 1990s. The NFL has changed quite a bit since those days, and no team would ever offer that type of return for any singular non-quarterback. However, the fact Dallas is even entertaining a Micah Parsons trade suggests they are willing to begin discussions on a more realistic return. Jerry Jones loves his drama, so perhaps this is just one big way to get more attention. However, if he truly wants to part ways with one of his franchise players, he should have 31 teams willing to negotiate.

Dallas Stars lock up one of the league's best players with massive extension today in hockey history
NHL

Dallas Stars lock up one of the league's best players with massive extension today in hockey history

The Dallas Stars have had many defining moments in their history, but few symbolize loyalty and leadership like Mike Modano's contract extension in the early 2000s. On August 21, 2003, the Stars officially locked up their franchise icon with an extension that cemented his role as the face of hockey in Texas. The move wasn't just about keeping a superstar forward, it was about keeping the identity of the Stars firmly tied to one of the most respected players in the game. Mike Modano's extension showed his loyalty and lasting impact on the Dallas Stars At the time, speculation lingered about whether Modano might test the waters elsewhere. Instead, he reaffirmed his commitment to Dallas, the franchise that had drafted him first overall back in 1988 when they were still the Minnesota North Stars. "This team, this city, it means everything to me. Staying here was the only choice that felt right," Modano said during the press conference announcing the deal. Those words resonated with fans, as his decision represented stability during an era when star players often left in search of bigger contracts. The extension also ensured that Modano would continue climbing the NHL record books in a Stars uniform. He went on to become the all-time American-born leader in goals and points, a record that defined his Hall of Fame career. Looking back, the August 21 signing stands as a cornerstone moment in Dallas Stars history. I think it was one of the smartest moves the franchise ever made, keeping Modano in green not only secured wins on the ice but also preserved a legacy that still inspires players today.

Justin Verlander needs to listen to Father Time despite desire to keep pitching
MLB

Justin Verlander needs to listen to Father Time despite desire to keep pitching

San Francisco Giants pitcher Justin Verlander had another rough outing on Thursday. The future Hall of Famer allowed seven runs on seven hits and a walk over his 4.1 innings, striking out four as the Padres defeated the Giants 8-4. His outing ended a streak where Verlander had allowed one or fewer runs in four of his previous five outings. The 42-year-old Verlander has been inconsistent at best this season, posting a 4.64 ERA and a 1.437 WHIP over his 110.2 innings, striking out 99 batters with 37 walks. This follows an injury-plagued 2024 campaign where Verlander posted 5.48 ERA and a 1.384 WHIP in 90.1 innings. Verlander, meanwhile, insists that he is not done. John Shea of the San Francisco Standard reported that Verlander wants to pitch in 2026. That desire does have a caveat — if Verlander suffers a significant injury, he said he is not interested in a lengthy rehab process to get back on the mound. "The ball’s rolling in the right direction, and I would like to continue pitching. You never know. It’s a fickle game too, but I think the stuff is still there," Verlander said. Verlander had been a workhorse earlier in his career, pitching at least 180 innings in all but one season from 2006 through 2019. He came back from Tommy John surgery that cost him most of 2020 and all of the 2021 season, winning the AL Cy Young award with a major league-leading 1.75 ERA and a 0.829 WHIP over his 175 innings, striking out 185 batters with 25 walks in his age 39 season in 2022. Verlander is a nine-time All-Star, won three Cy Young awards and was named the 2011 AL MVP and the 2006 AL Rookie of the Year. Those innings have taken their toll on Verlander. He has battled injuries over the past few years and has been below replacement level since the start of 2024. While he may want to return in 2026, his body and performance are telling a different story.

T.J. Watt addresses viral Instagram post that hinted new Steelers deal, ‘that was just…’
NFL

T.J. Watt addresses viral Instagram post that hinted new Steelers deal, ‘that was just…’

Pittsburgh Steelers star edge rusher T.J. Watt got rewarded handsomely in the offseason for being one of the best in the NFL at his position, and he had a few things to say about how the deal came about. The Steelers have made some big moves in the offseason, trading for Jalen Ramsey, signing Darius Slay, Aaron Rodgers, and DK Metcalf, alongside extending T.J. Watt. It capped off one of the most un-Steelers offseasons in years, and there is still more business to be done as Cam Heyward is holding in over his contract details. Watt signed a record three-year, $123 million extension, the highest deal for a non-quarterback, following months of tough negotiations between his agent and the Steelers. Many thought Watt’s Instagram post with Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig just hours before the deal was confirmed was a major hint of it being done. It turns out that wasn’t quite the case. T.J. Watt had no idea Steelers extension was done when he posted Instagram photo with Herbig Hours before T.J. Watt’s extension was confirmed, he posted a picture with Nick Herbig, and he had a sizeable grin of someone who’d just ended his holdout and earned a massive payday. That wasn’t the case. Asked if Herbig spilled the beans on the deal on Cam Heyward‘s podcast, Watt said: “You’re talking about the picture that we posted. No, that was literally just picture day at the gym! “I got home, and the deal, they called me, and the deal was done.” Herbig was then asked if he had done pushups before the picture, as he looked ‘jacked’. Aside from the comments that Watt looked remarkably bulkier than he did last year, they had mostly been about the star edge rusher signing a new deal or that they were training in Wisconsin. Herbig and Watt’s Alma Mater was Wisconsin, so some didn’t jump the gun, but the majority of fans went wild with speculation. The fact that his agent had sealed the deal with the Steelers a few hours later looked to have validated that speculation. Well, Watt has now dispelled that for good! Steelers have one of the most stacked edge rushing rooms in NFL after drafting Jack Sawyer The beauty of the NFL draft is that you are often left wondering how players fall to certain teams, like the Baltimore Ravens with Malaki Starks, bolstering an already incredibly defensive backs room. The same can be said for the Chiefs with Left Tackle Josh Simmons, who looks like a franchise LT already, and the Steelers with the Ohio State linebacker Jack Sawyer. Sawyer, a National Championship winner last season, fell to the fourth round, and conveniently into the arms of the Steelers, who already have an incredible pass-rushing unit. He joins Watt, Herbig, and ROLB Alex Highsmith in one of the most dangerous units in the league, which will be a prime test for the AFC North. Here’s what Watt said about Sawyer: “I just think it’s cool to see Jack pick our brains. We give him a hard time because now you can’t really haze rookies, so we’re trying to find ways to get under his skin. “It’s not very hard. But I think he’s going to be a good player for us. I think he’s a bigger body guy who can rush inside or outside, and you see his growth each and every day. It’s been pretty cool.” Baltimore, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Cleveland Browns will have to face that unit at least twice this season!

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!