Marsden threw 7.2 shutout innings in the opener, as the Huskers made the most of their four hits, scoring five times in the eighth to break open a 3-0 contest. In the nightcap, Gullion launched a two-out, three-run homer to left off Panther closer Cory Kleeba to break a 6-all deadlock, as the Huskers improved to 9-2 on the season, their best 11-game start since the 1992 season.

In the opener, the Huskers took advantage of a pair of early UW-Milwaukee errors, scoring an unearned run in the fourth and two more unearned runs in the fifth to take a 3-0 advantage. In the fourth, Jeff Leise reached on a two-base error before eventually coming around to score on a sacrifice fly by Matt Hopper to give NU a one-run advantage. With two outs and a runner on first in the fifth, Chad Steele�s grounder was booted by UWM third baseman Ross McCoy � one of his three errors on the day - giving the Huskers a second chance. NU would make the most of the opportunity, as Joe Simokaitis lined a double to right, plating both runners, pushing the lead to 3-0.

Simokaitis paced the Husker offense, going 1-for-3 and tied his career high for the third time this season with three RBIs, as NU capitalized on the three miscues and seven walks by Panther pitching.

That would be all that Marsden would need, as the 6-foot-6 left-hander struck out eight and scatted four hits to improve to 2-0 on the season. Marsden, who struck out a career-high 10 against Notre Dame in his last start, was helped by the Husker defense, which turned double plays in each of the first three frames. Marsden was cruising until the eighth, when he issued a pair of two-out walks. Clinging to a 3-0 lead with the tying run at the plate, closer Tim Schoeninger got pitch hitter David Micha to ground back to the mound to end the threat and threw a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season.

NU broke through in the eighth, scoring five times on only one hit, a bloop RBI single John Grose.

In the nightcap, the Huskers jumped to a quick 2-0 lead on Brandon Fusilier�s two-run double in the first, but the lead would be short-lived as UWM, which fell to 0-4 on the year, scored four runs in the second highlighted by Steve Sanfilippo�s two-run double in the top of the second off NU starter Brian Duensing, who lasted just 1.2 innings before leaving with tightness in his elbow.

NU would close to within 4-3 in the second on an RBI double by Jeff Leise, who had three hits, including a pair of doubles, but would be held off the scoreboard until the seventh, when Matt Hopper tied the score with a solo homer to lead off the frame. It was Hopper�s fifth round tripper of the year and 47th of his career, moving him within one of Bobby Benjamin�s school record. NU took the lead at 5-4 on an error by Sanfilippo on Matt Wells� fielder�s choice, allowing Fusilier to score from second. NU tacked on another run on UWM�s second error of the inning, as center fielder Sam Jansen dropped a fly ball, allowing Wells to score on the play.

The Panthers tied the score in the eighth, scoring a pair of unearned runs, as Troy Doering�s sacrifice fly tied the score at six, setting the stage for the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, Hopper walked and Fusilier, who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, was hit by a Kleeba pitch, putting runners on first and second for Gullion, who smacked an 0-1 offering barely over the fence in left for his first homer as a Husker.

Jason Burch earned the win, striking out four and allowing one hit in 2.1 innings of relief to improve to 1-0 on the year. Kleeba (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing six runs � four earned � in 3.0 innings of relief.

The Panthers loaded the bases in the ninth off Pat O�Neil on a single and a pair of walks, but the left-hander got Charlie Reschke to fly out to end the contest and earn his first career save.

The Huskers and Panthers will conclude the three-game series Saturday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the Pinnacle Sports Network and on Huskers.com and will be streamed live on the Internet at HuskersNside.com.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.