The Bulldogs outhit the Flyers in the first of their three-game series with Dayton at Foley Field in Athens, Georgia 5-1.

Sophomore Emerson Hancock started the season opener on the mound Friday afternoon. He pitched almost seven straight scoreless innings until he was replaced by his roommate and best friend Ryan Webb.

Head coach Scott Stricklin said that no matter what happened in the seventh inning he was going to pull Hancock.

“When you see it, it’s really something special,” said Stricklin. “It got a little nervous and it was quiet in our dugout. Our guys did a good job, no one said anything, and I think the fans sensed it too.”

Emerson started off the season with a perfect 0.000 ERA. He said this is the guy he has always wanted to be.

Both teams went scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when Riley King singled out to left field allowing Aaron Shunk to run home. After catcher Mason Meadows walked and King advanced to second, Patrick Sullivan hit a double to left field. This gave Meadows and King both the opportunity to run home. Sullivan was left on second base.

Georgia scored two more times in the bottom of the fifth inning. King hit a homerun towards left field allowing him and Shunk to run home.

Webb only allowed one successful hit while he was on the mound. It was a home run from Dayton’s Alex Brickman.

The series will continue with a double header today at noon.