TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Ninth-ranked Florida State won its 10^th consecutive game on Friday night, knocking off the Virginia Tech baseball team by a score of 10-2 in ACC action at Dick Howser Stadium.

Tech fell to 27-18 overall and 10-14 in the ACC with the loss, while the Seminoles improved to 31-12 overall and 16-7 in league play.

First baseman Austin Wates did most of the damage for the Hokies, going 4-for-5 with two runs driven in and his fourth home run of the season. Stephen Cardullo also had a 4-for-5 effort to pace the Seminoles.

Wates got things started with a solo home run for the Hokies in the top of the first inning, but the lead was short-lived, as an Omar Danesh triple keyed a three-run Florida State third inning. Mike McGee scored the first run on a wild pitch by Tech starter Rhett Ballard, while Jason Stidham, who singled, and Tommy Oravetz, who was hit by a pitch, both touched home on Danesh’s triple.

The Seminoles added another run in the fourth thanks to a Tech error to make it 4-1. After Tyler Holt reached first on the miscue, he stole second and came home on a single to right field by Cardullo.

The Hokies got that run back in the fifth when Wates doubled home left fielder Klint Reed, who led off with a walk, but that’s all the scoring Tech would see the rest of the way. Seminole starter Brian Busch (4-2) was solid, allowing seven hits and walking three, while striking out five.

Florida State put things away with six runs over its final three at-bats. Stuart Tapley delivered a three-run triple in the sixth, Mike Meschke hit a solo homer in the seventh, and Stidham cranked a solo homer in the eighth.

Ballard took the loss for the Hokies to fall to 6-4 after allowing four runs (three earned), six hits and three walks in just 3.1 innings. He struck out four batters, though, and with 249 career strikeouts, he has now taken over fifth place on Tech’s all-time list. Current major leaguer Joe Saunders sits in fourth place with 255 strikeouts.

Game two of the three-game series is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday. It will be televised by Sun Sports, which is available on DirecTV channel 656 and Dish Network channel 447.