The sophomore left-hander from Grand Forks, N.D., was dominant in improving to 5-1 on the season, while lowering his Big 12 leading ERA to 1.39. Marsden struck out six and allowed one Jayhawk baserunner to get into scoring position in the 100-pitch masterpiece. KU managed three singles in the loss and only had more than one runner on base once in the loss, as the Husker starter notched his second shutout of the season. Marsden, who has three complete games this season, didn’t walk a batter, as only one KU batter got to a three-ball count

“Tonight he was the sharpest he’s ever been as far as control,” Nebraska Coach Dave Van Horn said. He’s always been able to get out of jams, but tonight he was throwing strike one all night long.”

“I felt really good and it was great to get the team win,” Marsden, who improved to 5-1 in conference play, said. “Our team played awesome defense, and came through with the big hit in the eighth inning.”

With the score knotted at 0-0 in the eighth, the Huskers finally got to Kansas starter Jeff Davis, scoring four runs on three hits. Jed Morris, who went 3-for-4, doubled down the first base line with one out before consecutive walks to Matt Hopper and Jeff Blevins loaded the bases. Drew Anderson lofted an sacrifice fly to center, scoring pinch-runner Adam Riddle from third for the decisive run before John Grose sent a 1-2 offering by Davis over the left field fence for his second homer of the year, giving the Huskers a four-run cushion.

“From a coaching standpoint, this was a great ballgame to be a part of,” Van Horn said of the contest that finished in a brisk 2:01 “It was great baseball for the fans. Give credit to both sides, the pitchers threw nothing but strikes. Drew got the big hit for us in eighth, and we felt like we were going to win.”

Grose, who extended his hit streak to 14 games, had two of the Huskers’ 10 hits, while Will Bolt tied a season high with three hits, including a pair of doubles, for Nebraska, which improved to 29-13 overall and 13-9 in the conference. The Huskers moved into sole possession of second place in the Big 12 standings, as Baylor (14-9 at Kansas State) and Oklahoma State (3-2 at Texas) both lost Friday evening.

Davis was outstanding in defeat, throwing a complete-game 10-hitter, as he matched Marsden through the first seven innings before the Huskers broke through in the eighth. The Jayhawk right-hander stuck out one and didn’t issue a walk until the eighth, as he fell to 5-3 on the year.

Kansas had its best chance score in the top of the eight, as Travis Metcalf singled before Cole Armstrong was hit, putting runners on first and second with one out. Marsden induced Brandon Shepherd to ground into an inning-ending double play, setting up NU’s third last at-bat win of the season

The Huskers, who stranded eight runners, left runners in scoring position three times, as Davis, who has all three of KU’s Big 12 wins, wiggled out each jam until the eighth.

Kansas, which fell to 16-22 overall and 3-15 in the league, has lost its last seven games, while suffering its ninth last at-bat loss of the season.

The Huskers and Jayhawks are scheduled to play Saturday afternoon at 2:05 p.m, as left-hander Jamie Rodrigue (5-1, 3.66 ERA) will take on KU right-hander Dan Olsen (3-3, 4.57 ERA). Prior to the game, the University will have a dedication ceremony for Hawks Field, beginning at 1:45 p.m.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.