Cody Ackerman and Max Everett had games to remember as Gainesville scored early and never lost its lead in downing Loganville 9-3 in the opening round of the Georgia State American Legion Tournament Wednesday at Hunter Park.

Ackerman pitched a complete game for the winners and was 5-for-6 at the plate, while Everett went 3-for-6 with a three-run homer.

Gainesville, the No. 8 seed, scored four runs in the first inning and breezed to victory.

Gainesville’s Brad Stone led off the bottom of the first with a walk and Ackerman, Everett and Bucky Free all added singles in the four-run inning.

Loganville cut the lead in half, scoring twice in the top of the third. Trey Culpepper and Mitch McCann had the inning’s big hits.

Gainesville added four runs in its half of the third. Ryan Avery singled, Stone reached base and Ackerman singled home a run. Everett followed with a 3-run homer, as the lead grew to 8-2.

Loganville cut the gap to 8-3 in the top of the seventh, before Gainesville added its final run in the eighth. Stone doubled, Ackerman singled and Free added an RBI single.

Ackerman was in complete control on the mound. At the plate he collected two doubles and four singles. Everett added a single, homer and another single as Gainesville used a powerful 1-2 punch.

Gainesville advances to today’s second round and will face top-seeded Albany Post 30 at 7:30 p.m. Loganville goes into the loser’s bracket and will face the Canton-Dawsonville loser at 4 p.m.