Duensing improved to 2-0 on the season, tying a career high with eight strikeouts, as the 6-0, 185-pounder scattered four hits and allowed three runs in 5.2 innings of work. The Husker gave Duensing ample support, scoring 14 runs on 15 hits, highlighted by a seven-run eighth inning, as NU improved to 3-2 heading into Sunday�s 11 a.m. runner match against the Bulldogs.

Hopper, a senior from Golden, Colo., went 2-for-3 with a homer, his third of the afternoon, two RBIs and three runs run scored while drawing three walks. His two RBIs gave him 210 for his career, moving him past Paul Meyers, who had 209 from 1984 to 1986, for NU�s career mark.

On the day, Hopper went 5-for-6 at the plate with three homers, five RBIs, four walks and six runs scored. Hopper reached all 10 times he got to the plate, as he reached on an error the only time he didn�t get a hit or walk. Hopper�s three homers also moved him into sole possession of third place on NU�s homer chart, as he needs four more to become NU�s leader in that category.

Brandon Fusilier tied a career high with four RBIs, going 2-for-5 with a homer, while Joe Simokaitis had three hits and drove in three runs.

The Huskers took advantage of the wildness of Louisiana Tech starter Matt Varner in the second, scoring a run without a base hit. Varner walked the bases loaded before Bubbs Merrill�s sacrifice fly to center scored Joe Gullion, who walked to open the frame.

Louisiana Tech had apparently taken the lead in the bottom of the second, as Jeff Walker homered to right over the outstretched arm of Drew Anderson. Nebraska Coach Mike Anderson appealed that Walker passed Kyle Humphreys at first, and home plate umpire Tommy Durrett agreed, calling Walker out on the play, but allowing Humphreys to score to tie the score.

Hopper continued his torrid hitting, opening the third with his third homer of the afternoon, a solo shot to center to open the frame, for his third homer of the doubleheader before the Huskers knocked Varner out of the game in the fifth. In the frame, the first four Huskers reached base, including back-to-back RBI singles by Fusilier and Joe Gullion that gave NU a 4-1 lead and ended Varner�s outing, as he allowed five runs on five hits in four innings to fall to 1-2 on the year. The Huskers added a pair of insurance runs, as Alex Gordon plated another run with a fielder�s choice to score Fusilier before the Huskers finished the scoring as Matt Wells scored from third on a rundown play.

The Bulldogs finally got to Duensing, who had retired nine straight following Walker�s hit in the second, until the bottom of the fifth, when Louisiana Tech scored twice to trim the Husker lead to 6-3. Kyle Spangler doubled with one out and Wade Robinson walked to put runners on first and second before Mims Boyce�s roped a two-run single, cutting the NU lead to three runs.

Duensing pitched 5.2 innings of four-hit ball and tied a career high with eight strikeouts. The left-hander from Omaha also struck out eight at Oklahoma State last season.

The Huskers put the game out of reach, scoring seven times in the eight, highlighted by Fusilier�s three-run homer and Simokaitis� two-run single before the Husker shortstop added another RBI single in the ninth for the final run.

The Huskers and Bulldogs will conclude the series Sunday morning at 11 a.m. Senior southpaw Jamie Rodrigue will take the hill for the Huskers

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.