CARROLLTON, Ga. – The University of West Georgia used a three-run fifth inning to defeat the University of Montevallo baseball team 5-0 in the Falcons' season opener Feb. 6 at Cole Field.

Junior Brandon Marshall led the Falcons as he finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of singles.

Senior Matthew Haskins, junior Steven Knudson and sophomore Jacob Whiting each had a single as the Falcons finished with five hits in the season opener.

Junior Cody Hughes (0-1) took the loss after giving up three runs, including two earned runs, on three hits with one strikeout and one walk in 4 1/3 innings in his first start of the season.

Senior Jeremy Bagnall allowed two earned runs on four hits with two strikeouts and one walk in 3 2/3 innings in relief.

West Georgia starter Matthew Norton pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing just five hits with four strikeouts and one walk. A.J. Sunstrom pitched 2 2/3 hitless innings with three strikeouts and two walks in relief.

Tyler Hutch led the Wolves at the plate as he finished 2-for-3 with a double and a triple while scoring three runs.

Hutch, who reached on a walk, scored the first run of the game on a RBI sacrifice fly by Garrett Hayes in the bottom of the first inning. Hutch scored the Wolves' second run of the game in the bottom of the third inning after being hit by a pitch and scoring on a wild pitch by Hughes.

A two-run double by Payton Mann in the bottom of the fifth inning pushed the Wolves' lead to 4-0 before Hayes scored the final run on a sacrifice fly by Drew Eady.

The second game in the series is set for Saturday, Feb. 7 at Cole Field.

First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Eastern/12 p.m. Central.