LINCOLN -- Matt Hopper went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, including a two-run single in the seventh that broke a 5-5 tie, as top-ranked Nebraska defeated Northern Iowa, 15-6, in the final regular-season game at Buck Beltzer Stadium Tuesday evening.

Hopper's single up the middle off UNI reliever Mike Egger gave the Huskers the lead for good, as NU (39-13) scored eight in the seventh and four more in the eighth to overcome a 5-3 deficit.

Hopper, left fielder Justin Seely and shortstop Will Bolt had three hits apiece, as Nebraska pounded out 14 hits against seven Northern Iowa pitchers. Bolt, who missed the cycle by a homer, tied a career-high with five RBIs, including a three-run triple in the eighth.

Steve Hale picked up the win in relief, allowing one hit in 2.1 innings to improve to 4-0 on the season. Hale entered the game with NU trailing 5-3 and two runners on, but got out of the jam with a pair of groundouts to end the threat.

Trailing by two runs entering the seventh, the Huskers sent 12 men to the plate off UNI relievers Steve Jenson, Egger and Derrick Frost, pounding out seven hits, including Hopper�s two-run single and Jeff Blevins' two-run double. Seely, Bolt, Jed Morris and John Cole, who extended his hit streak to 16 games, all added RBIs in the frame, the 50th time this season NU scored four or more runs in an inning.

"I felt that we were a little flat early on, and it looked like things would turn their way," Nebraska Coach Dave Van Horn said. "We had some guys get some key hits today. I thought that Will Bolt hit the ball extremely well, so did Matt Hopper. Justin Seely came off the bench to give us a few key hits. Overall, I thought we played extremely well."

Jenson took the loss, allowing five runs on three hits in a 0.1 inning, to fall to 0-3 on the season.

The Huskers put the game out of reach in the eighth on Bolt�s three-run triple to left center and an RBI single by Seely, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI off the bench.

In the second, the Panthers, who fell to 26-26 on the year, scored a pair of runs of Husker starter R.D. Spiehs. Aaron McEachran led off the frame with a double to center, moved to third on a single by Seth Patterson, who stole second to put runners in scoring position. With one out, Brady Weber lofted a soft single down the line in left, plating both runners.

The Huskers tied the score, scoring a pair in the bottom of the second off UNI starter Josh Habel. With one out, Jeff Blevins walked and came around on Will Bolt�s triple to center, cutting the Panther lead to 2-1. Second baseman Josh Hesse then tied the scored with a single up the middle, scoring Bolt from third.

Nebraska took its first lead of the evening as Hopper homered to right off UNI reliever Tom Martin to lead off the fourth inning. Hopper�s homer, his eighth of the season, gave Nebraska a 3-2 advantage.

The Panthers took advantage of Spiehs' wildness in the sixth, scoring three runs on one hit to take a two-run lead. Spiehs had retired nine straight hitters before he walked Travis Welsch to open off the inning. UNI proceeded to load the bases, as Ryan Brunner was hit by a pitch and McEachran walked on four pitches. Brandon Penas came into replace the Husker starter, but walked Seth Patterson to tie the score before pinch hitter Brian Kobliska�s single up the middle gave the visitors a two-run lead.

The contest marked the final regular-season game at Buck Beltzer Stadium, which has been the home of Husker baseball for the last 23 seasons. Haymarket Park, a $32.4 million baseball/softball complex, is currently under construction in downtown Lincoln.