KENNESAW, Ga. - Virginia Tech withstood a late Bradley rally to earn a 6-4 win in the season-opener for both teams Friday afternoon at Kennesaw State's Stillwell Stadium.  Two-way player Jeremy Atwell was 2-for-4 with a 2-run home run and earned the save to lead the Hokies (1-0).

Virginia Tech scored four runs in the middle three innings, including three on home runs, to build a 4-1 lead against Bradley ace Joe Bircher.  After the Braves pulled even with three runs in the top of the eighth, Virginia Tech used a solo blast from Tyler Horan in the home half of the inning to reclaim the lead.

The Braves scored the game's first run when catcher Austin Jarvis was hit by a pitch to open the frame, stole second and scored on a 2-out single by third baseman Curtiss Bunch.

Bircher, who opened the season ninth among active NCAA Division I pitchers with 189 career strikeouts, cruised through the first three innings before Hokies leftfielder Andrew Rash tied things up with a home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth.

Bircher struck out the first two batters in the fifth, but designated hitter Gabe Ortiz reached on a wild pitch when he fanned with one out, which eventually allowed Atwell to bat with two outs and he delivered with his 2-run homer to put the Hokies in front, 3-1.  Virginia Tech stretched its advantage to 4-1 in the sixth inning when shortstop Johnny Morales brought home Rash from third on a ground ball to second.

Bircher struck out seven, but allowed four runs on six hits in his 6.0 innings of work.  Virginia Tech starter Manny Martir allowed only one run on two hits with eight strikeouts in his 7.0 innings, but neither pitcher got a decision after the Braves pulled even with three runs in the top of the eighth.

Bunch started the 8th-inning rally by greeting Hokies reliever Clark Labitan with a single.  Freshman Max Murphy followed with a hit by pitch and the Braves loaded the bases with no outs when second baseman Rob Elliott drew a walk.  Shortstop Jason Leblebijian earned one RBI with a fielder's choice ground out with one out and designated hitter Greg Partyka forced the tie by delivering a 2-out, 2-run double off Virginia Tech's second reliever, Jake Joyce (1-0).

Atwell worked in and out of trouble in the top of the ninth to earn the save.  First baseman Jerrod Eigsti led off with a single, and after Bunch hit into a fielder's choice, Murphy followed with a walk to put runners at first and second with one out.  Elliott singled to center field, but Murphy to caught being too aggressive rounding second and was tagged out for the second out.  The Braves stranded the tying runners at the corners when left fielder Mike Tauchman flew out to center to end the game.

The game against Virginia Tech was the first of two for the Braves Friday.  Bradley is currently in action against host Kennesaw State in the season-opener for the Owls (32-25 in 2011).  The Braves will face Virginia Tech again Saturday morning in a game that will start at 10 a.m. (EST), two hours earlier than originally scheduled, in hopes of beating predicting rain.  Bradley will close the trip with a 10 a.m. (EST) game Sunday against Kennesaw State.

Game Notes:  A transfer from Allen County Community College, Bunch was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in his Bradley debut ... Bradley was 15-8 in the 23 games Jarvis started behind the plate last season before an injury forced him to sit out most of April and May ... Bircher temporarily moves to fifth on the NCAA Division I active strikeouts list with 196.