ATHENS — Sophomore Emerson Hancock pitched eight shutout innings with 11 strikeouts and no walks to lead fifth-ranked Georgia over No. 21 Missouri 3-0 Thursday at Foley Field.
"It was huge," Stricklin said. "Emerson has two losses and a no-decision in the league, and he really easily could have nine wins. He’s just been awfully good, so great to get him a win. Tucker Maxwell got us going with that bunt and we kind of went from there. We got some momentum. Heck, he [Missouri pitcher] was no hitting us into the sixth inning. Tucker leads off with a bunt, and we put some hits together and scored some runs.
Hancock (7-2) faced just one over the minimum and retired 19 of the final 20 batters he faced. Junior Zac Kristofak pitched the ninth for his fourth save on the year as the Bulldogs improved to 31-8 overall and 11-5 in the SEC. The Tigers fall to 26-13-1 overall and 7-8-1 in the SEC.
“I was just trying to get ahead of them and let the defense make plays," Hancock said. "They always show up for me in big games and tonight was nothing different. Anytime I see the guys lock in on the other pitcher I always feel like I can settle a little bit more. I just try to get our guys in and out of the dugout as quick as I possibly can so we can have some runs.”
Georgia junior Tucker Maxwell led off the bottom of the sixth with a bunt single to second which marked Georgia’s first hit off Jacob Cantelberry. Then, sophomore Riley King took followed with an RBI double to left field, scoring Maxwell. Junior Aaron Schunk singled to right field advancing King to third. With two on and one out, senior LJ Talley made it 2-0 on a sacrifice fly to center field. Graduate John Cable entered the game to pinch hit for Austin Biggar and delivered a run-scoring double to extend Georgia’s lead to 3-0.
Cantleberry took the loss, falling to 3-3. He allowed three runs on three hits with seven strikeouts over 5.1 innings.
DAWG TRACKS
-- Sophomore RHP Emerson Hancock matched his career high for innings pitched with eight shutout innings and 11 strikeouts. He improved to 7-2 with a 1.04 ERA on the year.
-- Graduate John Cable smacked a pinch-hit RBI double.
-- Junior Zac Kristofak now has 10 career saves to go with 10 career wins after pitching the ninth to collect a save.
UP NEXT
Georgia will continue the SEC series against No. 21 ranked Missouri in Athens Friday at 7 p.m. (SEC Network+)
