Jaylen Paden would get the start on the mound for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, his second start of the season, losing his first start in his last outing against the Auburn Tigers, while Tomas Valincius would get the start for the Virginia Cavaliers on the other side for their Friday contest.
Before the Yellow Jackets would even record an out, an interference call would put lead off man Aiden Teel on first base, then Eric Becker would hit a two run home run to get the scoring started, with the Cavaliers taking a 2-0 lead. Paden would retire the next three batters to get out of the inning, including striking out Henry Ford.
Valencius would walk Yellow Jackets shortstop Kyle Lodise to start the game, and would eventually come home from first base on a double to right field by Alex Hernandez to make he game 2-1. Yellow Jackets catcher Vahn Lackey would ground into a double play to end the first inning.
Paden would walk the first batter of the second inning, but would retire the next three batters of the inning, one by strikeout, one by flyout, and one by popout, allowing no hits in the inning.
Kent Schmidt would lead off the bottom of the second inning by reaching first on an error by Valincius, but would get thrown out on the next at-bat on a fielder's choice. A flyout by Yellow Jackets first baseman John Giesler would end the second inning, with the Cavaliers still leading 2-1.
Paden put together masterful work in the top of the third inning, forcing two flyouts and striking out Ford yet again.
Valincius would force a groundout from Lodise to start the bottom of the third inning before walking centerfielder Drew Burress. A strikeout by Hernandez and Daniel would end the inning, with the Cavaliers still up 2-1.