CLEMSON, S.C. (Interstat) — Kent Schmidt hit a grand slam and Dylan Loy delivered four and one-third hitless innings as starter as Georgia Tech routed Clemson 9-3 on Friday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, securing a series victory in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.

The Yellow Jackets, who shut out the Tigers 10-0 on Thursday, improved to 15-2 overall and 2-0 in the ACC. Clemson fell to 15-4 and 0-2.

The most critical sequence of the game came in the top of the seventh inning, breaking open what had been a tight contest. Leading 4-2, Georgia Tech capitalized on a Clemson error to ignite a rally. After an error and two walks loaded the bases with one out, Schmidt crushed the first pitch he saw from reliever Jacob Allen over the right-center field wall for a grand slam. The four-run blast extended the Yellow Jackets’ lead to 8-2 and effectively put the game out of reach.

Georgia Tech’s offensive output was supported by another dominant pitching performance. Starter Dylan Loy (2-0) was nearly untouchable, allowing no hits and two earned runs over 4 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out one. The bullpen combination of Mason Patel, Caden Gaudette and Carson Ballard preserved the no-hit bid into the eighth inning, combining for 4 1/3 hitless frames before Clemson finally recorded a single.

Clemson’s offense, which managed nine hits, was stymied by Georgia Tech’s arms and defensive execution. The Yellow Jackets turned three double plays and picked off two Tigers baserunners in the early innings to quell potential rallies.

The Tigers’ runs came via solo home runs. Nolan Jarrell hit a homer in the second inning, and Nate Savoie provided a bright spot for Clemson, going 3 for 4 with two solo home runs, including a shot in the eighth inning that broke up the combined no-hit bid. Savoie’s second homer accounted for the final 9-3 margin.

Georgia Tech built its early lead with a three-run second inning against Clemson starter Michael Sharman (2-2). Vahn Lackey led off the frame with a solo home run. Later, with two outs and two runners on via an error and a walk, Parker Brosius delivered a two-run double to make it 3-0. The Yellow Jackets added a run in the fourth on an RBI single by Drew Kerce, scoring Mike Zuckerman, who had singled.

Sharman took the loss for Clemson, surrendering five hits and three runs, two earned, over 5 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three.

Lackey finished 2 for 4 with the homer and two runs scored for Georgia Tech. Schmidt’s four-RBI day came on his two hits. Ariston Veasey provided a strong relief outing for Clemson, throwing 1 1/3 perfect innings with two strikeouts.

The result defied pregame projections from Interstat, whose ELO system gave Clemson a 59% probability to win and whose simulator predicted an 8-7 Tigers victory.

The teams conclude the three-game series Saturday afternoon.