University of Georgia Athletics
Friday, February 15
Athens, Ga.
3:00 PM
University of Georgia
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Photo by: Kristin M. Bradshaw
Clean 5-1 Win Over Dayton Highlights Opening Day for #9 Bulldogs
February 15, 2019 | Baseball
ATHENS, Ga. – Behind Emerson Hancock's arm and the bats of Riley King and Patrick Sullivan, the Georgia baseball team won its season opener, 5-1, against the Dayton Flyers Friday evening at Foley Field.
On the mound, Hancock, a sophomore right-hander, had a perfect game working through 5.1 innings and a no-hit bid through 6.2, before yielding the first Flyer hit. He then surrendered another hit and a walk, prompting Georgia to call on Ryan Webb who kept the scoreboard and Hancock's line clean with a groundout. Hancock (1-0) retired 19 of 23 batters faced and notched two strikeouts. Sophomore lefty Ryan Webb (1 S) earned the save, tossing the final 2.1 inning with a line of one run on three hits, one walk, one hit-by-pitch and one strikeout.
Offensively, King, a redshirt sophomore right fielder, dazzled in his first-career start, going 3-for-4 with his first-career home run, and three RBI. Sullivan, a redshirt junior first baseman, went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double. Additionally, junior third baseman Aaron Schunk notched a two-hit game (2-4) with a double and two runs.
The first Georgia run of the 2019 season crossed in the bottom of the third inning off the bat of King. Schunk started the inning with a one-out double, and then scored from second; sliding headfirst into home plate safely after King's second single of the day went through the left side. Three batters later, Sullivan doubled King and Mason Meadows home on a shot down the left field line that squirted out of the glove of a diving Flyer.
King, out of Lawrenceville, Ga., made it 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth with a line-drive home run over the left-field fence that also scored Schunk again.
Hancock retired the first 13 batters he faced until his perfect game ended due to a hit-by-pitch with one out in the top of the fifth inning. However, Hancock induced a 3-6-3 double play in the following at-bat to still face the game's minimum through five innings. Hancock continued to send down Flyers' batters, until Alex Brickman broke up the no-hit bid in the sixth with two outs.
Dayton obtained its lone run in the top of the ninth with a home run from Brickman over the left field fence. Flyers' starter Hunter Wolfe (0-1) received the loss after pitching six innings and giving up five runs on seven hits.
Dawg Tracks
-With the nod at second base, senior LJ Talley started each of his four opening day games in his collegiate career. Three Bulldogs made their third-straight opening day start (Cam Shepherd, Tucker Bradley, Aaron Schunk). Two Bulldogs made their second-straight opening day start (Mason Meadows, Patrick Sullivan). Sophomore Riley King made the first start of his collegiate career, playing in right field. Redshirt freshman Connor Tate made his Bulldog debut with the start at DH.
-Production from new faces. Riley King had three RBI and three hits. In his freshman campaign, he played in eight games with one hit and one RBI in six at-bats.
-Two-hit game for Patrick Sullivan, his fourth career multi-hit game. Sullivan entered the game with 11-career RBI and notched two.
-In Emerson Hancock's first start last year on opening weekend, he threw a scoreless six innings, giving up only two hits and striking out five.
-Transfer John Cable made his Bulldog debut with a pinch hit groundout.
-Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin is 4-2 in season openers at Georgia.
-The game marked the first time the two schools have met on the baseball diamond.
Coach's Corner
Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin
On Riley King...
"Well, I was saying to myself when he went up for his first bat today that I hoped he would get a hit. He's a really humble kid, he'll never get a big head even if he's doing everything right. I mean just watch the way he runs out to right field, it's a dead sprint. He plays really hard and he plays the game right. He's taken his time, battled some injuries, his knee and his elbow but he's back and is fully healthy and now we're seeing what he can do."
On Emerson Hancock...
"Emerson Hancock just filled up the strike zone, and Dayton had some great at-bats. He had the no hitter going into the seventh. They got some thunder in the middle of their lineup. It was his first time through, mainly fastballs but then he used some change up. The defense behind him played incredibly. We're going to win a lot of games this year because the guys on the mound really trusting the guys behind them. It was really clean game, not a bobble on either side. Dayton played really well defensively, it was a really clean game, played really efficiently and we were glad to come out with the win."
On the defense...
"When the ball is put in play you just have to hold your breath. I mean, Tucker Bradley runs down the ball in the gap. CJ Smith runs the ball down in the gap too. Our infielders were making some pretty tough plays, look at Patrick Sullivan, he can catch anything. I think our defense is one of the best we've ever had, they're just really consistent. It's really exciting and it gives our pitchers a lot of confidence to pitch at the strike zone. Our defense is going to make some plays."
Player's Perspective
Sophomore RHP Emerson Hancock
On the weather changing the game time…
"I don't think it affected us in any way, maybe just getting out of class a little earlier and coming out to the field to get ready to go. 3 o'clock is a weird time for Friday night, but I think everyone was ready to go."
On opening day…
"I think the ovation in the seventh was one of the coolest things I've ever been through. When you have a crowd like that behind you it's a lot easier to pitch. They're always supporting you. They're in it every pitch. We're thankful for them."
Sophomore RF Riley King
On first start…
"Obviously a lot of jitters and stuff coming into the first game, but I was just trying to get up there, be confident, stay even, and just get my pitch and swing it. It was cool how it worked out."
On the fans…
"No doubt, it brought the energy. We had energy coming into opening day, but I was standing out there in right field, and sometimes I would look and be like 'this is the seventh inning, we're getting the out, and they're still going crazy'. So it was awesome to see how consistent they were, being with us, and it honestly kept us stay with energy throughout the game."
On the home run…
"It felt awesome. Honestly, running around the bases, it was cool how much I could think about running around the bases. It was really cool, definitely one to remember."
Up Next
Due to anticipated rain, game three of the Georgia/Dayton series has joined game two in a double header Saturday starting at noon at Foley Field.
Follow the Dawgs
For the latest on Georgia baseball, follow the Georgia baseball team on twitter (@baseballuga), Instagram (baseballuga), and Facebook (Georgia Baseball).
On the mound, Hancock, a sophomore right-hander, had a perfect game working through 5.1 innings and a no-hit bid through 6.2, before yielding the first Flyer hit. He then surrendered another hit and a walk, prompting Georgia to call on Ryan Webb who kept the scoreboard and Hancock's line clean with a groundout. Hancock (1-0) retired 19 of 23 batters faced and notched two strikeouts. Sophomore lefty Ryan Webb (1 S) earned the save, tossing the final 2.1 inning with a line of one run on three hits, one walk, one hit-by-pitch and one strikeout.
Offensively, King, a redshirt sophomore right fielder, dazzled in his first-career start, going 3-for-4 with his first-career home run, and three RBI. Sullivan, a redshirt junior first baseman, went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double. Additionally, junior third baseman Aaron Schunk notched a two-hit game (2-4) with a double and two runs.
The first Georgia run of the 2019 season crossed in the bottom of the third inning off the bat of King. Schunk started the inning with a one-out double, and then scored from second; sliding headfirst into home plate safely after King's second single of the day went through the left side. Three batters later, Sullivan doubled King and Mason Meadows home on a shot down the left field line that squirted out of the glove of a diving Flyer.
King, out of Lawrenceville, Ga., made it 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth with a line-drive home run over the left-field fence that also scored Schunk again.
Hancock retired the first 13 batters he faced until his perfect game ended due to a hit-by-pitch with one out in the top of the fifth inning. However, Hancock induced a 3-6-3 double play in the following at-bat to still face the game's minimum through five innings. Hancock continued to send down Flyers' batters, until Alex Brickman broke up the no-hit bid in the sixth with two outs.
Dayton obtained its lone run in the top of the ninth with a home run from Brickman over the left field fence. Flyers' starter Hunter Wolfe (0-1) received the loss after pitching six innings and giving up five runs on seven hits.
Dawg Tracks
-With the nod at second base, senior LJ Talley started each of his four opening day games in his collegiate career. Three Bulldogs made their third-straight opening day start (Cam Shepherd, Tucker Bradley, Aaron Schunk). Two Bulldogs made their second-straight opening day start (Mason Meadows, Patrick Sullivan). Sophomore Riley King made the first start of his collegiate career, playing in right field. Redshirt freshman Connor Tate made his Bulldog debut with the start at DH.
-Production from new faces. Riley King had three RBI and three hits. In his freshman campaign, he played in eight games with one hit and one RBI in six at-bats.
-Two-hit game for Patrick Sullivan, his fourth career multi-hit game. Sullivan entered the game with 11-career RBI and notched two.
-In Emerson Hancock's first start last year on opening weekend, he threw a scoreless six innings, giving up only two hits and striking out five.
-Transfer John Cable made his Bulldog debut with a pinch hit groundout.
-Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin is 4-2 in season openers at Georgia.
-The game marked the first time the two schools have met on the baseball diamond.
Coach's Corner
Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin
On Riley King...
"Well, I was saying to myself when he went up for his first bat today that I hoped he would get a hit. He's a really humble kid, he'll never get a big head even if he's doing everything right. I mean just watch the way he runs out to right field, it's a dead sprint. He plays really hard and he plays the game right. He's taken his time, battled some injuries, his knee and his elbow but he's back and is fully healthy and now we're seeing what he can do."
On Emerson Hancock...
"Emerson Hancock just filled up the strike zone, and Dayton had some great at-bats. He had the no hitter going into the seventh. They got some thunder in the middle of their lineup. It was his first time through, mainly fastballs but then he used some change up. The defense behind him played incredibly. We're going to win a lot of games this year because the guys on the mound really trusting the guys behind them. It was really clean game, not a bobble on either side. Dayton played really well defensively, it was a really clean game, played really efficiently and we were glad to come out with the win."
On the defense...
"When the ball is put in play you just have to hold your breath. I mean, Tucker Bradley runs down the ball in the gap. CJ Smith runs the ball down in the gap too. Our infielders were making some pretty tough plays, look at Patrick Sullivan, he can catch anything. I think our defense is one of the best we've ever had, they're just really consistent. It's really exciting and it gives our pitchers a lot of confidence to pitch at the strike zone. Our defense is going to make some plays."
Player's Perspective
Sophomore RHP Emerson Hancock
On the weather changing the game time…
"I don't think it affected us in any way, maybe just getting out of class a little earlier and coming out to the field to get ready to go. 3 o'clock is a weird time for Friday night, but I think everyone was ready to go."
On opening day…
"I think the ovation in the seventh was one of the coolest things I've ever been through. When you have a crowd like that behind you it's a lot easier to pitch. They're always supporting you. They're in it every pitch. We're thankful for them."
Sophomore RF Riley King
On first start…
"Obviously a lot of jitters and stuff coming into the first game, but I was just trying to get up there, be confident, stay even, and just get my pitch and swing it. It was cool how it worked out."
On the fans…
"No doubt, it brought the energy. We had energy coming into opening day, but I was standing out there in right field, and sometimes I would look and be like 'this is the seventh inning, we're getting the out, and they're still going crazy'. So it was awesome to see how consistent they were, being with us, and it honestly kept us stay with energy throughout the game."
On the home run…
"It felt awesome. Honestly, running around the bases, it was cool how much I could think about running around the bases. It was really cool, definitely one to remember."
Up Next
Due to anticipated rain, game three of the Georgia/Dayton series has joined game two in a double header Saturday starting at noon at Foley Field.
Follow the Dawgs
For the latest on Georgia baseball, follow the Georgia baseball team on twitter (@baseballuga), Instagram (baseballuga), and Facebook (Georgia Baseball).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hancock, Emerson (1-0)
L: Hunter Wolfe (0-1)
S: Webb, Ryan (1)
Batting:
HR: Alex Brickman 1
RBI: Alex Brickman 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alex Brickman 1
HBP: Mitchell Garrity 1 ; Connor Echols 1
Batting:
2B: Schunk, Aaron 1 ; Sullivan, Patrick 1
HR: King, Riley 1
RBI: King, Riley 3 ; Sullivan, Patrick 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Schunk, Aaron 2 ; King, Riley 2 ; Meadows, Mason 1
HBP: Talley, LJ 1 ; Smith, C.J. 1
PO: Talley, LJ 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
C/INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballINF/RHP
/ BaseballSS
/ Baseball1B
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
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