LEXINGTON, Va. ? VMI scored 11 of the game's first 12 runs and pounded out 16 hits as the Keydets captured a Big South win with a 13-6 victory over the Liberty Flames Friday night at Gray-Minor Stadium in Lexington, Va.

With the win, VMI moves to 12-15 overall and 6-3 in Big South play, while Liberty drops to 19-8 and 7-2 in conference action. Every starter save one had a hit for VMI in the triumph, and the Keydets blasted four home runs to help boost their offensive attack.

Travis Smink (4-2) earned the win for VMI, going 5 2/3 innings and surrendering five runs, while previously unbeaten Steven Evans (4-1) took the loss for Liberty, as the sophomore lasted just two frames and surrendered six runs, all earned.

"Our offense did a nice job and had great approaches all night long," said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. "To get Evans out of the game early was outstanding, and today, we finally put all the pieces of the puzzle together, pitching, hitting and defense. I was especially proud of the way our guys were focused for all nine innings."

After Liberty plated a single run in the first, the Keydets scored the game's next 11 runs. A second-inning home run by Tanner Biagini helped begin the outburst, and the Keydets then kept the offensive explosion going, posting five runs in the fourth inning to take an 11-1 lead. The key blow of that frame was a three-run shot by Alex Haitsuka, his first of two on the night.

The Flames tried to rally, as the visitors scored two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings off VMI starter Travis Smink. The final run of the sixth inning, driven in a P.J. Jimenez RBI double, cut the VMI lead to 11-5. Liberty would then add an additional run in the seventh off Keydet reliever Matt Edwards, and the Flames loaded the bases with two outs.

However, Edwards induced an inning-ending flyout to preserve the VMI lead, and Liberty could get no closer the rest of the way. In fact, VMI added two late runs, thanks to back-to-back eighth-inning home runs by Brian Sandridge and Haitsuka, to account for the final margin, 13-6.

At the plate, the Keydets were led by Haitsuka (3-for-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI) and Jordan Ballard (3-for-5, 4 RBI), while Liberty was paced by Curran Redal, who was 4-for-5 in the contest.

VMI baseball will return to action Saturday afternoon, as the Keydets host Liberty in game two of the three-game weekend Big South series. Game time is set for 4 p.m.

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LU................. 100 022 100 - 6 15 2 (19-8, 7-2 Big South)

VMI................ 240 500 02X - 13 16 0 (12-15, 6-3 Big South)

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LU - Evans; Long (3); Steinwedell (5); Curll (6); Poretz (8) and Hollinger.

VMI ? Smink; Edwards (6) and Haitsuka.

Win-Smink (4-2) Save-Edwards (3) Loss-Evans (4-1) T-3:19 A-202