ATLANTA (Interstat) — The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets erupted for eight runs in a marathon first inning and never looked back, cruising to a 16-1 victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies in an Atlantic Coast Conference baseball opener Friday evening at Russ Chandler Stadium.

The game was effectively decided in its opening frame, as Georgia Tech sent 14 batters to the plate against three Virginia Tech pitchers. The Yellow Jackets capitalized on a combination of timely hitting and patient at-bats, racking up six hits and drawing five walks in the inning.

Drew Burress sparked the outburst with a leadoff double. After a strikeout, three consecutive walks forced in a run and set the stage for Kent Schmidt, who delivered a two-run single up the middle to give Georgia Tech a lead it would not relinquish. Ryan Zuckerman followed with an RBI single, and Caleb Daniel cleared the bases with a two-run single to center. Carson Kerce and Burress added run-scoring hits later in the inning, with Burress driving in his second run of the frame. Jarren Advincula capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly, staking the Yellow Jackets to an 8-0 lead before Virginia Tech could record a third out.

The most important part of the game was that decisive bottom of the first, which demoralized the Hokies and allowed Georgia Tech to play with a massive lead for the entirety of the contest. Virginia Tech starter Ethan Grim was charged with six earned runs without recording an out, and relievers Preston Crowl and Josh Berzonski failed to stem the tide.

Virginia Tech scratched out its lone run in the second inning. Sam Gates walked, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI double by Anderson French. The Hokies managed just five hits total and never seriously threatened after the early deficit.

Georgia Tech continued to pour it on, adding four more runs in the third inning, highlighted by a two-run single from Will Baker and another RBI single from Kerce. They tacked on single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to complete the rout. Kerce finished three for four with three RBIs. Zuckerman went two for three with two RBIs, and Daniel drove in two.

While the offense provided an overwhelming cushion, Georgia Tech’s pitching was dominant. Starter Tate McKee earned the win, allowing one run on four hits over three innings. The star of the afternoon was reliever Carson Ballard, who entered in the fourth and stifled any potential Virginia Tech momentum. Ballard fired three scoreless innings, surrendering just one hit and striking out five. Kayden Campbell pitched a perfect seventh to close out the game.

For Virginia Tech, reliever Danny Lazaro provided a bright spot, tossing two and two-thirds innings of hitless, scoreless relief with three strikeouts. Tyler Stone recorded the final out of the sixth.

The victory improves Georgia Tech’s record to 11-1 overall and 1-0 in the ACC, extending their winning streak to seven games. The Yellow Jackets have scored 10 or more runs in eight of their 12 games this season. Virginia Tech falls to 7-6 overall and 0-1 in conference play. The Hokies have lost three straight games, having been outscored 44-6 in that span.

The teams are scheduled to continue their three-game series Saturday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.