LEXINGTON, Va.- Travis Smink collected his seventh win of the season by limiting conference-leader Birmingham-Southern to only one run in seven innings, while an 11-run eighth inning broke the game open as the Keydets claimed a 13-1 series-opening win.

Smink (7-1) allowed only four hits while striking out six, as the Keydets (25-14, 6-7 Big South) earned their first win in seven tries over the Panthers (19-17, 7-3 Big South). Smink also established a new VMI freshman record with his seventh win of the season.

"Obviously, it's great to come out and win on opening night against a good team," said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. "Travis Smink threw seven strong innings for us, and really pitched well out of some jams. I was proud of how he competed. Klint Reed had a couple of great at bats to give us the lead and to extend the lead. I was really proud of our offensive approach tonight, and how they answered after BSC got on the board in the seventh. Shane Geisslinger did a great job drawing a couple of walks and dropping down two sac bunts to roll the lineup over, and we played great defense today to help get the win too."

VMI broke a scoreless tie in the sixth, when Klint Reed's bases-loaded single brought home two runs off of BSC starter Brandon Hynick (3-4). The Panthers cut the lead in half when Mark Goforth's double scored James Oliver in Smink's final inning of work.

The Keydets then exploded in the eighth inning, as seven runs were scored before an out was recorded. Reed, who was 2-for-5 with five RBI, drove in the first two runs with a double and later got an RBI on a ground out. B.T. Good followed with an RBI single and Michael Roberts delivered an two-run single. Kelly Sweppenhiser singled in a run and Jacoby Fields doubled in two more to round out the scoring in the inning.

All nine VMI starters scored a run in the contest, while five Keydets posted multiple hits. Fields and Good (two RBI each) teamed with Reed, as the team's 4-5-6 hitters drove in nine runs in VMI's largest margin of victory since defeating Charleston Southern in their Big South opener on March 17 at Patchin Field.

The Keydets will go for the series win on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. EST. VMI sophomore lefty Trey Barham (6-2) will oppose BSC senior righty David Horne (5-2).