Marsden, who threw a one-hit shutout over the Aggies in Lincoln last season, hurled 7.2 innings of two-run ball, scattering 10 hits, as the 6-foot-6 junior improved to 3-0 on the season. Marsden, who walked one, upped his record to 6-0 against ranked teams in his two-year Husker career.

With the win, Nebraska improved to 11-2 on the year and 1-0 in the league, while snapping the Aggies� seven-game winning streak. The win was also only NU�s second in College Station since the formation of the Big 12 in 1996.

Hopper, who went 1-for-4 with his sixth round tripped of the year, in the win, not only provided the decisive run with his eighth inning homer off Texas A&M starter Logan Kensing, but etched his way into the Husker record books with his 48th career round tripper to tie Bobby Benjamin�s school mark of 48 set from 1988 to 1990.

Leading 3-2 with two outs in the eighth, the Aggies (17-5) scored a run off Marsden and had the winning run in scoring position, but Tim Schoeninger came out of the bullpen to squelch the rally, getting Jordy Mitchell on a fly out to left, as Brandon Fusilier (Coppell, Texas) and shortstop Joe Simokaitis (St. Louis, Mo.) collided on the play, but Fusilier held on for the final out of the inning. Schoeninger, a freshman from Denver, retired the side in order in the ninth to pick up his third save in as many chances.

Kensing pitched well in defeat for the Aggies, firing a complete game seven-hitter, as he dropped to 4-2 on the year. The Aggie right-hander struck out six, but allowed all three of the Huskers run, as NU scored twice in the fifth before Hopper�s solo shot in the eighth.

The Huskers jumped out for a pair of runs in the top of the fifth off the Aggie starter. With two outs and Jake Mullinax (Hesperia, Calif.), who reached on a walk on first, Simokaitis, who extended his hit streak to 10 games, laid a bunt single down the third base line. On the play, Mullinax broke toward third, while first baseman Brian Bowe�s throw was high, allowing Mullinax to score and Simokaitis to advance into scoring position. The error would prove costly, as Jeff Leise (Omaha, Neb.), who had two of NU�s seven hits, doubled to right one batter later, scoring Simokaitis for NU�s second run of the inning.

Texas A&M would threaten in each of the middle innings, putting the leadoff man on in the fourth, fifth and six innings, but Marsden continued to wiggle out of jams, as the Husker defense turned a pair of double plays to thwart the rallies.

The hosts finally got to the Husker southpaw with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, as back to back doubles by Scott Beerer and Bowe plated the Aggies first run, ending a 24-inning scoring drought against Husker pitching dating back to last season.

Nebraska seemingly got an insurance run off Kensing in the top of the eighth, as Hopper connected on his sixth homer of the season, sending a 2-2 pitch deep to left center to extend the Husker lead to 3-1.

Texas A&M came right back, knocking Marsden out of the game by stringing together three consecutive two-out base hits. Justin Ruggiano�s single to right scored Beerer, cutting the margin to 3-2, as Nebraska Head Coach Mike Anderson brought Shoeninger to face Mitchell with the winning run on base, setting the stage for Fusilier�s inning-ending grab.

The series continues Saturday evening at 7 p.m., as junior right-hander Quinton Robertson (3-0, 3.86 ERA) will take on A&M right-hander Zach Dixon (2-0, 4.68 ERA).

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.