Carrollton, GA - The West Georgia Wolves baseball team started their season off with a bang as they took down Emmanuel College 17-0 on Saturday afternoon. The Wolves tallied 16 hits on the day, including five doubles and two home runs.

The scoring for the Wolves started early as senior Tyler Hutch hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first. "Hutch is our spark plug," said head coach Skip Fite after the game. "If Hutch was 6'3'' and 200 pounds he'd probably be a high draft pick with all the ability he has," added Fite.

Hutch is followed by two more veterans as Dalton Rogers and Garrett Hayes hit third and fourth in the lineup. They combined to hit 4-8 on the day, as Hayes went 3-3. "Both of those guys are quality hitters," said Fite of Hayes and Rogers. "It was good to see Garrett relaxed and not being able to be beat up there. He's just a good hitter," added Fite.

The scoring really took off in the bottom of the third as the Wolves scored ten runs on five hits in the inning. It all started with a Garrett Hayes single followed by Caleb Lopes being hit by a pitch. With one out and the bases loaded, third baseman Ben Utley hit a double to centerfield that scored two. Drew Eady drove in a run on a fielder's choice, and then Artemis Kadkhodaian doubled down the left field line to score two more. The big blow of the inning was a three run homerun by Payton Mann.

That ended the scoring for both teams until the bottom of the eighth. Garrett Hayes once again started the rally for the Wolves with a single to right field. A Caleb Lopes double and Payton Mann hit by pitch loaded the bases for the Wolves. True freshman Cade Marlowe then pinch-hit and did not disappoint. He ripped a single to right field scoring two runs in his first collegiate at-bat.

"Cade is going to be a great player here," said Coach Fite. "I think Cade could be one of the best hitters to ever come through West Georgia. He's a talented young man and a great young man," added Fite.

A Keith Buckhault sacrifice fly and Drew Eady RBI single ended the scoring for the Wolves. The West Georgia pitching staff was equally impressive as they threw a shutout in the first game of the year.

Preseason All-American Matthew Norton got the win, going four hitless innings with four strikeouts. He struggled a little with his command early, allowing Emmanuel to load the bases on two walks and a hit by pitch in the first, but he worked his way out unscathed.

Fellow senior Brandon Goldsmith was equally impressive, pitching three scoreless innings. He showed his velocity, striking out five batters. Ethan Hunter and Tyler Gunnin each threw a single hitless inning.

"I was excited about our offense today because I knew our defense and pitching would be extremely good," said Fite. "I feel like today we just outmatched them," added Fite.

The Wolves now have a week off before welcoming the Pfeiffer University Falcons in a three-game series next weekend. The games are set for a 1:00 PM start on Saturday with the second game to follow. Sunday's game is set for a 1:00 PM first pitch at Cole Field.