The Huskers, who improved to 2-0 on the season, made the most of their six hits, scoring three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth to break open a scoreless contest, as NU won its first two games for the first time since 1997.

Duensing turned in an excellent performance, as the left-hander from Omaha struck out three and took a no-hitter into the sixth before allowing one unearned run for the win, as three Husker hurlers combined on a two-hitter.

�I was throwing a lot of fastballs early on to get ahead and came back with some off-speed pitches to mix them up,� Duensing said. �Rob (Pitching Coach Rob Childress) did a good job of calling pitches and keeping their hitters off-balance all night.�

�Brian and the rest of the pitchers really did a good job and that was the key for us tonight,� Nebraska Coach Mike Anderson said. �He (Duensing) was in control of the game the entire time he was on the mound. Dustin (Timm) and Mike (Sillman) came in to give us three strong innings of relief, so we had three guys who we were very pleased with tonight.�

Offensively, Joe Simokaitis, Chase Odenreider and Jeff Leise drove in two runs apiece, as NU took advantage of UTPA�s pitching woes in the middle innings.

The Huskers got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs off UTPA starter Tommy Sorden. Curtis Ledbetter, who had a pair of hits, led off with a walk and moved into scoring position on a Brandon Fusilier sacrifice and a balk before scoring on Odenreider�s sacrifice fly. NU was held hitless through the first 3.2 innings before shortstop Joe Simokaitis roped a two-out, two-run single to right, extending the lead to 3-0.

The Huskers knocked Sorden (0-1) out of the game in the fifth with two more runs, as the Bronc starter allowed five runs and walked seven to take the loss. Ledbetter gave the Huskers a 4-0 advantage with an RBI single that plated Drew Anderson, who opened the frame with a walk before advancing two bases on a wild pitch. NU put runners on second and third before Odenreider drove in his second run of the afternoon with a fielder�s choice to score Ledbetter.

Duensing threw 5.2 innings of no-hit ball before Marco Garza broke up the no-no with a two-out double to left. UTPA would capitalize in the frame, putting runners on first and third before Garza scored on a throwing error by NU catcher Matt Wells. It would be the final time UTPA, which fell to 4-4 on the year, would have a baserunner, as Timm and Sillman retired the last nine hitters, combining for six strikeouts in three innings of scoreless relief.

Nebraska would tack on three more in the eighth, highlighted by Leise�s RBI triple and a sacrifice fly by Bruce, before Leise drove in NU�s final run with an RBI single in the ninth.

Nebraska will conclude the Express College Classic on Sunday morning, when it takes on California at 11 a.m. The Golden Bears (7-3) saw their six-game winning streak end on Saturday, as Southwest Texas (3-5) pulled out a 6-5 victory in 13 innings.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.