For a team in need of a pick-me-up, Georgia’s 6-4 win over rival Florida Friday night at Foley Field was just the ticket for the 9th-ranked Bulldogs.

It’s been a trying two weeks for Georgia, not only dropping four straight games between Georgia Tech and Mississippi State, but also losing ace pitcher Emerson Hancock and third baseman Aaron Schunk with the Bulldogs in the meat of the SEC schedule.

An easy non-conference victory over The Citadel on Tuesday got Georgia (35-12, 14-8) on the winning track, but being able to take a series-opening victory against the Gators helped everyone’s spirits exponentially.

“This was big, that’s our arch rival over there so obviously to get a win from them, is huge,” designated hitter John Cable said. “Obviously, we had a bad weekend last week at Mississippi State, but coming home, it was nice to be back, play with a little homefield advantage. We’ve just got to keep it going.”

Head coach Scott Stricklin could not agree more.

“That was a really gutsy win tonight considering everybody who was out,” Stricklin said. “Considering Emerson’s out, considering that Will Proctor’s out, considering that Tucker Bradley is out, considering that C.J. Smith is out right now, considering Schunk is out and guys are overcoming it; I’m proud of them.”

Starting pitcher Tony Locey (8-1) – who was making his first Friday night start - bounced back from a sub-par effort against Mississippi State to give the Bulldogs six-plus innings of excellent ball.

The junior right-hander allowed just four hits, two earned runs with six strikeouts over six innings before being replaced by Ryan Webb after the first two batters reached to start the seventh, one coming on his first walk of the night.

“The thing I was most proud of today was the fact that I came out of the game with just the one walk,” said Locey, who had walked 37 batters in 62.1 innings coming into play. “It came in the seventh, which I hated, but that was pretty good.”

Locey would need Webb to work out of a major jam to earn credit for the win.

After giving up an RBI double to Cory Acton, Webb struck out Jud Fabian before leadoff hitter Brady McConnell drove in another run with a fielder’s choice. But just when it looked like the Gators were ready to snatch the momentum completely away, Webb’s next pitch enticed a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Austin Langworthy to end the inning to the bottom of the seventh with the Bulldogs still in front 6-3.

Zac Kristofak came on in the eighth for Georgia and had to do some fancy two-stepping of his own after Florida put the first two runners on with nobody out. But again, just when it looked like the Gators (28-19, 9-13) were primed for more runs, Kristofak regained his composure and retired the next three hitters to end the inning. Kristofak would give up a run in the ninth, but held on to pick up his sixth save for Georgia, which won the game despite stranding 13 runners on base, including the bases loaded three times.

“It’s maddening, to have that many opportunities,” Stricklin said. “We were a swing away, their bullpen was ready to go in the first inning, and I think we could have put a big number up if we get one hit. They made some pitches and plays to get out, but it made for an uncomfortable win. It was a strange feeling; You never felt comfortable and I believe it was just that regret of leaving guys in scoring position.”

The game started out well enough for Georgia when Tucker Maxwell came back from an 0-2 count to 3-2 before leading off the Bulldog first with his 10th home run over the right center field fence.

Gator starter Tommy Mace (7-4) would walk the next three batters, but after an RBI groundout by Cam Shepherd, the senior worked around another walk to escape the first with just the two runs scoring.

After the Gators reached Locey for a run in the second, Georgia failed to score after loading the bases in the second before striking for three runs in the second to chase Mace and extend the lead to 5-1. An RBI single by Cable, a sacrifice fly by Shepherd followed by an RBI single by Chaney Rogers accounted for the damage before the Bulldogs added another run in the sixth for a 6-1 lead.

Stricklin had some encouraging words regarding pitcher Emerson Hancock who has missed his last two starts with an injured right lat.

Hancock threw 40 pitches to a trio of hitter prior to Friday’s game, and apparently looked as good as ever.

“He was really good. He was fun to watch. I’m watching and I’m wondering why is he not pitching for us tonight, but what we wanted to make sure is if he could go max effort and still feel OK because you know out there in the game, you’re going to really get after it,” Stricklin said. “He threw about 40 pitches today, and it was really good. He felt great afterwards, but it’s going to be about how he feels tomorrow, but it’s very encouraging. Our guys were all out there watching every step and the poor three souls who had to face him. We feel really good about him moving forward.”

Third baseman-closer Aaron Schunk (Achilles/heel) is taking positive steps as well.

“There’s a chance (of playing), again, just depending on how he feels. He was ready to Kirk Gibson pinch hit if we needed him, but that was going to be about it,” Stricklin said. “(Saturday) is probably doubtful, Sunday is probably questionable, but again it just depends on how he feels.”

Stricklin hopes pitcher C.J. Smith (back) will be ready by next week’s series at Auburn.

…Stricklin said he hopes that both Webb and Kristofak will be available for Sunday’s finale.

…Saturday’s Game 2 is set for 2 p.m., but a threat of rain could make it a double-header on Sunday.

…Tim Elliott (5-3, 2.63) will get the start for Georgia Saturday against Jack Leftwich (4-4, 6.03). Both teams are undecided about their Sunday starter.

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