Minnesota Hands No. 9 Huskers 5-3 Setback

Minneapolis, Minn. -- Jason Kennedy's eighth-inning RBI single broke a 1-all tie, as Minnesota scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to down No. 9 Nebraska, 5-3 in front of a crowd of 217 at the Metrodome Wednesday afternoon.

Trailing 1-0 after seven innings, the Gophers, who improved to 5-10, finally got to Husker starter Brian Duensing in the bottom of the eighth. With one out and Sam Steidel on first, Ben Pattee tripled off the baggie in right, plating the tying run. Luke Appert walked to put runners on the corners, as NU Coach Dave Van Horn brought in Phil Shirek. Kennedy then singled off the Husker reliever to give the Gophers a 2-1 lead. After an intentional walk, pinch hitter David Roach gave UM a four-run advantage with a three-run triple down the right field line off Jason Burch.

Duensing, who fell to 0-1 in with the defeat, turned in a strong performance in the losing effort. He took a shutout into the eighth and scattered six hits in 7.1 innings in his first collegiate start. A southpaw from Omaha who had pitched four innings before today, Duensing struck out four and walked two, both in the eighth.

After the teams combined for 25 runs in Tuesday's 19-6 Husker victory, this afternoon's contest turned into a pitcher's duel between Brian Duensing and Minnesota starter Craig Molldrem, who allowed an unearned run in the third, but held NU in check until the ninth.

Molldrem picked up the win for the Golden Gophers, finishing one out away from complete-game performance. The sophomore right-hander allowed three runs scattered eight hits and struck out six Huskers to improve to 2-1 on the season.

The Huskers got on the board in the third, as Will Bolt scored on Drew Anderson's sacrifice fly to right. Bolt opened the frame with a single and moved into scoring position as Jeff Leise's single bounded past right fielder Jason Kennedy, putting runners on second and third with one out.

NU, which dropped to 12-6 and saw its four-game winning streak come to an end, rallied in the ninth, stringing together three consecutive hits off Molldrem to cut the deficit to 5-3. With two outs, Daniel Bruce doubled and came around on Bolt's RBI single, his third hit of the day. Pinch hitter Justin Seely then plated Bolt with a single to the gap in right center to put NU within two runs. Gopher closer Tim Theis came in to get Leise, who had two of NU's eight base hits, to ground out to first to end the game for his first save.

The Huskers begin a three-game series with No. 22 Texas Tech this weekend at Hawks Field. Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m., as All-American Shane Komine (4-0, 1.22 ERA) will take the hill for the Huskers.