ATLANTA (Interstat) — The Georgia Tech offense erupted for nine runs in a decisive seventh inning, turning a tie game into a rout as the Yellow Jackets overpowered Virginia Tech 14-5 on Saturday afternoon and evening at Russ Chandler Stadium.

The Atlantic Coast Conference matchup saw the Hokies (7-7, 0-2 ACC) carry a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth, but the Yellow Jackets (12-1, 2-0) chipped away before unleashing a relentless barrage in the seventh to secure their 12th consecutive victory.

Virginia Tech starter Brett Renfrow held Georgia Tech hitless through four innings but was charged with five earned runs over five innings of work, taking a no-decision. The Hokies’ offense struck for four runs in the top of the fifth, capitalizing on an error by Georgia Tech starter Dylan Loy. Henry Cooke ignited the rally with a solo home run, and Ethan Ball and Sam Grube followed with RBI singles before Hudson Lutterman added an RBI double to make it 5-2.

Georgia Tech responded immediately in the bottom of the frame. Alex Hernandez led off with a walk and scored, along with Jarren Advincula, on a two-run double by catcher Vahn Lackey. Lackey later scored on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Zuckerman to knot the game at 5-5.

The contest remained tied until the bottom of the seventh, when the Yellow Jackets sent 14 batters to the plate. Lackey, the game’s top star, broke the deadlock with a towering two-run homer off reliever Chase Swift. After Kent Schmidt singled, Zuckerman launched a two-run shot of his own. The onslaught continued as Will Baker and Caleb Daniel hit back-to-back solo homers, stretching the lead to 11-5.

Virginia Tech cycled through three more pitchers in the inning, but Georgia Tech was not done. Lackey returned to the plate later in the frame and delivered an RBI single, finishing his day 3 for 4 with a home run, a double and five RBIs. Schmidt, who was a perfect 4 for 4, added another RBI single to cap the nine-run outburst. Daniel homered again in the eighth for the final margin.

The most important part of the game was unequivocally Georgia Tech’s bottom of the seventh inning. What had been a 5-5 stalemate was transformed into a 14-5 blowout in a single, relentless half-inning that featured six hits, two walks, and five home runs. The inning demoralized the Hokies’ pitching staff and cemented the outcome, showcasing the explosive potential of the Yellow Jackets’ lineup.

Loy went 4 2/3 innings for Georgia Tech, allowing one earned run on six hits. The bullpen combination of Jackson Blakely, Caden Gaudette, Brett Barfield and James Vicens held Virginia Tech to just one run over the final 4 1/3 innings to secure the win.

The Hokies collected 11 hits but stranded nine runners. Georgia Tech’s 18-hit attack was led by Lackey, Schmidt, and Daniel, who had two home runs.

The victory defied the pregame projection from Interstat, which had forecast an 8-5 Georgia Tech win and gave the Yellow Jackets a 59.4% probability of victory. The teams conclude their three-game series on Sunday.