Bulldogs Defeat River Hawks 6-2

Saturday, February 23

Athens, Ga.

2:00 PM

University of Georgia

4-0

UMass Lowell

0-5

UMass Lowell

Georgia

February 23, 2019 | Baseball

Box Score UGABox G4

ATHENS, Ga.— Ninth-ranked Georgia defeated the UMass Lowell River Hawks 6-2 Saturday at Foley Field.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Emerson Hancock led the charge for the Bulldogs, tossing 6.1 innings of one-hit ball with a career-high 10 strikeouts. Hancock improved to 2-0 on the year and had a perfect game through 4.1 innings as the Bulldogs ran their record to 4-0 while the River Hawks fell to 0-5. Nick Rand fell to 0-2, allowing three runs on six hits with five strikeouts in six innings.

In the first inning, sophomore catcher Mason Meadows delivered a two-run single to score junior shortstop Cam Shepherd and senior second baseman LJ Talley. Shepherd went 3-for-4 with three RBI on the day to pace a 10-hit attack. The River Hawks loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth, and then Talley made a diving stop of a grounder to end the threat as Georgia maintained its 3-0 lead. It was one of two highlight plays for Talley on the afternoon.

Georgia junior left-hand pitcher Justin Glover came on for Hancock with out in the seventh and finished the frame. Then, the Bulldogs handed it over to junior right-hand pitcher Zac Kristofak in the eighth. The River Hawks responded with a two-out rally to make it a one-run contest after a two-run single by Oscar Marchena.

Georgia answered with a three-run outburst, courtesy of a two-run single by Shepherd and an RBI-single from redshirt sophomore right fielder Riley King to make it 6-2. Junior third baseman/closer Aaron Schunk pitched the ninth for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs will return to Foley Field Sunday for a doubleheader against the River Hawks. The first game will begin at 11 am and the second will follow 30 minutes after.

Dawg Tracks

Freshman left-fielder Chaney Rogers started his first game and finished 1-for-2 with a walk and run scored.
Sophomore right-hand pitcher Emerson Hancock set a career high with 10 strikeouts in just 6.1 innings.
Senior second baseman LJ Talley notched his first triple of the season, the fourth of his career.
Junior shortstop Cam Shepherd recorded his second game with three hits this season and the eighth time in his career.

Coach's Corner
Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin
"Emerson (Hancock) gave us another great start, his second of the season, and was very sharp working ahead in the count. He didn't get as many strikeouts in his first outing compared to today, but he was just as good. The guys played excellent defense behind him. LJ Talley made a couple of really nice plays; we don't win the game without some of the plays he made especially one with the bases loaded. Cam (Shepherd) is looking very comfortable in the leadoff spot. I said it last week, that was his idea when we met during the fall, and he had another three-hit game today."

Player's Perspective

Senior Second Baseman LJ Talley
On his run saving play in the 5th inning
"I don't know what happened on that play. When I got up I thought I was going to throw it home, but he was only halfway down the baseline. It was a slow hit so I slid like 20 feet in the hole, and when I got up he was only halfway to first so I threw him out."

On the offense's performance
"You gotta do the best you can. I thought we hit better than what the scoreboard said. We put some good swings on the ball, and thankfully we came out with the win."

Sophomore RHP Emerson Hancock
On how he was able to pitch in the rain
"It's all about your mindset. How you want to attack isn't going to change the way that you pitch. You just got to stay warm, stay dry, get a dry ball whenever you can, and just go about it like that."

On using his entire arsenal of pitches
"I did a pretty good job of getting ahead and I thought that really helped. I was able to get 0-1 on those guys and then I could mix in some off speed. Credit to the defense. They played lights out. Those guys were awesome today."

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