ATLANTA (Interstat) — The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets erupted for 10 runs over the fifth and sixth innings to turn a tight contest into a rout, defeating the rival Georgia Bulldogs 14-4 in a seven-inning game shortened by the 10-run rule Tuesday night at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

The game, a non-conference clash between two of the state’s top teams, was projected to be a close affair. Interstat’s game simulator had forecast a one-run victory for Georgia, which entered with a 54.2% win probability according to the service’s ELO ratings. Instead, Georgia Tech’s relentless offense overwhelmed a parade of Bulldogs pitchers, racking up 14 hits to improve its season record to 31-7. Georgia fell to 32-10.

The most important part of the game was Georgia Tech’s immediate and sustained response after Georgia’s early offensive burst. The Bulldogs struck first in emphatic fashion. After two quick outs in the top of the first, Rylan Lujo singled and Michael O’Shaughnessy followed with a two-run homer to give Georgia a 2-0 lead. Henry Allen then singled and Brennan Hudson walked, applying immediate pressure on Georgia Tech starter Carson Ballard.

However, the Yellow Jackets answered in the bottom half of the frame, setting the tone for the remainder of the game. Carson Kerce and Drew Burress led off with singles. Jarren Advincula then drove in Kerce with a single up the middle. After a walk loaded the bases, Vahn Lackey grounded into a double play, but Burress scored on the play to cut the deficit to 4-2. The two-run response prevented Georgia from building significant early momentum.

Georgia Tech tied the game in the second on a solo home run by Will Baker and an RBI single from Burress that scored Kerce, who had doubled. They then seized control with a four-run third inning against Georgia reliever Jordan Stephens. A hit-by-pitch, a walk and an RBI double by Alex Hernandez plated one run. A wild pitch brought in another, and a sacrifice fly by Caleb Daniel made it 7-4. The Yellow Jackets never trailed again.

Georgia clawed back with back-to-back solo home runs from O’Shaughnessy, his second of the game, and Allen in the top of the fifth, pulling within 7-6. That prompted Georgia Tech to bring in reliever Jake Lankie, who escaped further damage by striking out pinch-hitter Jack Arcamone and getting Kolby Branch to fly out with a runner in scoring position.

Lankie’s outing proved pivotal. He worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three, to earn the win and stifle Georgia’s attempted rally. His performance bridged the game to the bullpen after the Bulldogs had shown signs of life.

Any hope for a Georgia comeback was extinguished in the bottom of the fifth, as Georgia Tech sent 11 batters to the plate and scored five runs to break the game open. The inning featured a two-run homer by Ryan Zuckerman and a two-run single by Advincula. Drew Burress capped the scoring in the sixth with a two-run single, his fourth hit of the night, to push the lead to 14-6 and enforce the mercy rule.

O’Shaughnessy led Georgia’s 10-hit attack, going 2 for 4 with two home runs and three RBIs. Allen added three hits, including a homer. For Georgia Tech, Burress was perfect at the plate, going 4 for 4 with a walk, three RBIs and three runs scored. Advincula drove in three runs, while Zuckerman and Baker each homered.

Georgia used seven pitchers in the loss, with only Grant Edwards and Caleb Jameson managing to post scoreless outings. Georgia starter Paul Farley did not record an out in the third inning.

Georgia opens a Southeastern Conference series at Mississippi on Friday. Georgia Tech begins Atlantic Coast Conference play at home against Wake Forest, also on Friday.