Leise ignited a four-run second with a three-run homer, his seventh of the season, as the Huskers, who improved to 20-10 overall and 8-5 in the league, rallied from an early 3-1 deficit before holding on for the win.

Jamie Rodrigue improved to 5-0 with the win, pitching the first 8.2 innings before Jason Burch got the final out in the ninth. Rodrigue, who has won his last nine decisions dating back to last season, struck out four and walked none as the St. Clair, Mo., product finished one out short of his third complete-game performance of the season.

“He just mixed it in and out today,” Nebraska Coach Dave Van Horn said. “He tried to stay away and get out in front of guys and he did a good job of that.”

The Huskers, who snapped a streak of eight straight one-run losses dating back to the season opener, took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as Leise led off with a single and moved into scoring position on Daniel Bruce’s sacrifice bunt before Jed Morris doubled to the gap in left center, plating NU’s first run.

The Sooners came right back in the second, scoring three times off the Husker starter to take a two-run lead. Charlie Frasier’s RBI single tied the score at one before Denver Kitch delivered a two-run triple to the wall in center.

Nebraska regained the lead in the bottom half of the frame, stringing together five hits off OU starter Jared McAulliff en route to scoring four runs. Consecutive base hits by Will Bolt, who had two of the Huskers’ 11 hits, and Drew Anderson put runners on first and second before John Grose tied the game with an RBI single. Leise then gave the Huskers the lead for good with a three-run laser that just topped the fence down the left field line.

“I thought we showed a lot today bouncing back after last night,” Van Horn said. “I was proud of the way we came out and got after, especially after getting down 3-1.”

McAulliff (1-1) took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits in just two innings of work.

Rodrigue, who allowed six runs and scattered 13 hits, settled down after the second, allowing one run, Frasier’s solo shot in the seventh, until the ninth. He has now pitched at least six innings in six of his past seven starts.

The Huskers gave Rodrigue more breathing room scoring a pair of unearned runs in the fifth off of Curtis White. With two outs and Morris, who went 2-for-4 and had a pair of doubles, on second, RBI singles by Jeff Blevins and Will Bolt, who had a pair of hits, gave the host a four-run advantage.

After Frasier’ homer, his seventh of the year, cut the NU lead to 7-4, Oklahoma, which fell to 19-11 overall and 8-5 in the league, came back, stringing together four hits off the Husker starter in the ninth. A sacrifice fly by Eddie Cornejo and RBI single by Luke Alexander put OU within one with runners on the corners, but Burch got Jason Fransz to fly out to Adam Riddle for the final out for his first career save.

“We were nervous, but Jason (Burch) is telling us he wants the ball and he got it done, Van Horn said. “It was a big relief.”

Nebraska and Oklahoma will stage the series rubber match at 12:05 Sunday afternoon, as southpaw Aaron Marsden (1-0, 1.02) will take the hill for the Huskers and will be opposed by Sooner left-hander Michael Bradbury (2-0, 1.93 ERA).

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.