GEORGIA TECH BOUNCES SE IN SERIES OPENER

ATLANTA -- Georgia Tech freshman Cory Vance struck out 14 Indians as the Yellow Jackets won the first of a three-game series Friday with a 13-2 victory over Southeast Missouri State University.

Jay Hood and Eric McQueen each provided homers as Tech (26-11), ranked No. 25 in the nation, won for the ninth time in its last 11 games. Southeast fell to 20-14.

The two teams will play a doubleheader today at 1:30 p.m.

Vance (5-2) won his third straight decision, allowing the Indians just four hits and four walks. His strikeout total was the highest for a Georgia Tech pitcher since the 1994 season. He pitched eight innings before being relieved by Jeff Bien.

The Yellow Jackets struck for four runs in the first inning off losing pitcher Dan Huesgen (3-2). Hood belted his seventh home run of the season in the second for a 5-0 lead.

Southeast scored both its runs in the third. Steven Lowe hit his fifth home run of the season to put the Indians on the board. Kyle Yount followed with a single and later scored on an RBI groundout by Robert Kern.

The Yellow Jackets broke the game open in a five-run fourth for a 10-2 lead.

McQueen and Heath keyed Georgia Tech's 14-hit attack with three hits apiece.

Huesgen lasted 3 1/3 innings, allowing 10 runs on 11 hits.

Jerry Wolsey and Marc Scheffer followed Huesgen to the mound.

Lowe and Yount each had two hits for Southeast.