Marsden, who was forced to hit after NU starting catcher John Grose was ejected in the fourth, put a exclamation mark on the evening with the evening’s biggest hit, a two-run double to right center off UT reliever Daniel Muegge for the Huskers' final two runs. Marsden went 1-for-3 in his first plate appearances of the season

“I felt a little more nervous this week than I had in the past because of where we were going and what was at stake,” Marsden said. “I tried to get all of that out of my mind and compete.”

The win improved the Huskers to 31-16 overall and 15-10 in the Big 12, keeping NU within striking distance of the league-leading UT, which dropped to 38-12 and 15-7 in league

The Huskers pounded eight runs and 10 hits off the Longhorns, who entered the contest with a nation’s leading 2.51 ERA. Will Bolt paced the attack with a pair of hits, as six different players drove in at least one run in the win, NU’s eight in the last 10 contests over Texas, dating back to 1999.

Nebraska took a 1-0 lead in the first, taking advantage of a balk by Texas’ starter Brad Halsey to score their first run. With one out, Daniel Bruce was hit by a pitch - one of two on the evening - and moved to third on Matt Hopper’s two-out double to left before the Longhorn starter balked Bruce home from third. The Huskers manufactured a run in the third, extending the margin to 2-0. Joe Simokaitis, who scored twice, opened the inning with a leadoff walk and moved to second on Jeff Leise’s bunt single. Bruce’s sacrifice advanced both runners into scoring position before Jed Morris’ sacrifice fly to left scored the Husker shortstop from third.

NU pushed the lead to four runs in the fourth, scoring twice and to chase Halsey. The Huskers strung together three consecutive base hits, including an RBI single by Adam Riddle to give the Huskers a 3-0 lead. On the play, Grose collided with UT’s Ryan Hubele, and home plate umpire Ken Eldridge ruled that Grose intentionally obstructed the Longhorn catcher and ejected him from the game. NU tacked its second run in the inning on Simokaitis’ grounder, scoring Will Bolt.

Halsey, who entered the game with a 6-1 record and a 2.44 ERA, allowed four runs on five hits in 3.1 innings of work to take the loss, snapping UT’s four-game winning streak and handing the Longhorns their four home loss in 29 games.

The Longhorns chipped away at the Husker lead in the fourth, taking advantage of two hits batters before Michael Hollimon’s RBI infield single off NU third baseman Jeff Blevins put UT within 4-1.

The teams traded runs in the sixth inning, as NU scored in the top of the inning on Daniel Bruce’s RBI single between third and short scored Simokaitis, who reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second before scoring on Bruce’s two-out single. Simokaitis wen

The hosts came back in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice by Jeff Ontiveros that scored Eric Sultemeier, who opened the frame with a triple that NU left fielder Daniel Bruce lost in the light.

The Huskers got some breathing room in the ninth, scoring three runs with two outs to take an 8-2 lead. A pair of walks put runners on first and second before Blevins singled plated NU’s first run, setting the stage for Marsden’s first career hit, a double that was laced into the gap in right center.

The Huskers and Longhorns continue the series Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m., as Jamie Rodrigue (5-2, 4.10 ERA) will take on Texas’ Justin Simmons (12-0, 2.10 ERA) in a game that will be televised by FOX Sports Net.

Notes: With his start tonight, Will Bolt set NU’s career record with his 230th appearance, breaking the record he shared with Darin Petersen (1992-95)…Daniel Bruce was hit by his 18th pitch this season (his first since April 10), moving into a tie with Brandt Vlieger (2000) for 4th on NU’s single-season list…NU’s run in the top of the first marked the27th time in 47 games that NU has scored in the first inning this season…Leise extended his current hit string to eight games…Bolt’s fourth inning single was his 250th hit as a Husker, tying Paul Meyers (1984-86) for second on NU’s career list.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.