Georgia baseball looks to keep its bats hot for Saturday’s doubleheader at Auburn with ace pitcher Emerson Hancock returning after three weeks off.

Hancock (7-2, 1.04 ERA) had a sore lat muscle and the UGA staff took all precautions. Hancock’s most recent appearance was against Missouri on April 18.

The No. 8-ranked Bulldogs (38-13, 17-8 SEC) got off on the right foot for the three-game series on Friday night at Plainsman Park by beating host Auburn 11-2.

“That might have been our best game of the year overall,” Georgia coach Scott Stricken said in the UGA release. “Tony Locey was outstanding on the mound going seven innings with 10 strikeouts and Darryn Pasqua and Adam Goodman each went an inning too.”

Redshirt freshman Connor Tate accounted for a career-high four RBI as Georgia scored its most runs in an SEC game this season against the Tigers (29-20, 12-3).

The Bulldogs blew open the game in the sixth inning, batting around in the order and scoring six runs.

Locey (9-1) tied his career high with seven innings pitched while fanning 10 batters.