AUBURN, Ala. - Sophomore Klint Reed's two-run home run in the eighth inning proved to be the game-winner, as the VMI baseball team scored its first ever victory against Auburn Saturday evening in game two of a weekend series. The two teams will play the series' rubber game Sunday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern.

The Keydets (1-1) once again received impressive pitching outings from their freshmen, as Michael Bowman and Travis Smink (1-0) combined to pitch the final six innings for the Keydets. Bowman relieved starter Trey Barham in the fourth, surrendering only two runs in 3.1 innings before Smink picked up his first collegiate win by allowing only one base runner in the final 2.2 innings of the game.

"I was proud of our guys' composure today," said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. "Our guys came out and played extremely hard. They were disappointed in how things came out last night, and played with a sense of urgency, and that proved in the way we played today. This is a good all-around win for our guys, I was just really proud of how we competed, especially our freshmen pitchers."
Senior Kelly Sweppenhiser set the stage early, connecting for his first home run of the season in the top of the first inning, a two-out solo shot off of Auburn starter Peter Wiggins. The Keydets would then claim a 2-0 lead in the top of the third, thanks to some small ball by the top of the lineup. Shane Geisslinger led the inning off with a double before going to third base on a bunt single by Reed. He then scored on a wild pitch by Wiggins.

"Kelly set the tone early with his solo home run," said Ikenberry. "That's exactly what you want out of a senior leader, to come out in this kind of game and take the pressure off of the rest of the guys a little bit by being able to play with a lead."

But the Tigers would respond in their half of the third. A pair of leadoff walks by Barham came back to haunt him, as a pair of singles and a fielders choice plated three runs to give the Tigers their first lead of the contest.

Following a scoreless fourth, the Keydets reclaimed the lead in the fifth, when a pair of errors led to three unearned runs for the visitors. Once again it was the top of the order putting pressure on the Tigers' defense, as a failed pickoff attempt and a strike three passed ball sandwiched a Klint Reed double to help score Geisslinger, Reed and Sweppenhiser in the fifth, giving VMI a 5-3 lead.

Once again, the hosts wasted no time with their answer. In the bottom of the fifth, a leadoff walk, a double and a fielders choice issued by Bowman helped Auburn tie the game at five.

A two-out Keydet rally in the sixth went for naught, as Robert Crumpler could not convert with the bases loaded, as Brett Butts recorded one of his five strikeouts of the evening.

Auburn threatened in the seventh, as two of their first three batters in the seventh reached, getting to second and third, forcing the Keydet coaching staff to bring in Smink in relief of Bowman. Smink responded immediately, striking out the next two left-handed batters to end the rally and swing the momentum back to the Keydet dugout.

In the top of the eighth, Auburn reliever Andy Marten (0-1) recorded the first two outs on a pair of infield grounders before issuing a walk to Geisslinger. From there, Reed took the first two pitches, both balls, before launching his fourth collegiate homer beyond the green monster in left field, giving the Keydets the 7-5 lead. A Sweppenhiser double followed, before Crumpler made up for his previous at bats by roping a double down the left-field line, plating Sweppenhiser to push the margin to 8-5.

From there, it was the Travis Smink show, as he surrendered a leadoff single in the eighth before inducing six straight groundball outs to wrap up the historic win for the Keydets.

Reed led the Keydet offense, going 4-for-5 with three RBI, two runs scored, a double and a home run. Also registering multiple hits were Chad Rice, Geisslinger and Sweppenhiser. Pacing the Tiger offense was Josh Donaldson, who went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a pair of doubles.

With the win, Ikenberry moves into fourth place all-time in wins at VMI, breaking a tie with Paul Maini and the game's opposing coach, Auburn skipper Tom Slater, each of whom had 50 career wins at the Institute.

"Coaching in a game like this is fun," said Ikenberry. "To manage against somebody who's your mentor and taught you so much about the game really makes things interesting."

The win over Auburn is the Keydets' first in 12 meetings with the Tigers. It also marks the first time since April 5, 1922 that the Keydets have defeated a current member of the SEC. In 1922, a no-hitter against South Carolina in the first-ever baseball game held at Alumni Field gave the Keydets an 8-0 victory. It is also the Big South Conference's first win over an SEC opponent since March 30, 2005, when UNCA defeated Tennessee 13-10.