The Aggies (18-5, 1-1 Big 12), tallied three unearned runs in the second inning and got a strong performance from closer Scott Beerer to withstand several Husker late-inning rallies, evening the series for Sunday�s rubber match, set for 1:05 p.m.

The Huskers (11-3, 1-1) threatened in each of the final three frames, but Beerer repeatedly pitched out of late-inning jams, throwing the final 2.1 innings to pick his Big 12-leading sixth save of the season.

Trailing 4-1, the Huskers loaded the bases off A&M reliever Brian Finch in the seventh with a pair of walks and a hit by pitch, as the Aggies brought Beerer in to face NU catcher John Grose with a 2-1 count. Grose, who had three of Nebraska�s nine hits and the Huskers� only RBI, grounded into a fielder�s choice to end the inning. NU loaded the bases again in the eighth with one out, but Beerer, who has not allowed a run in 17.2 innings, struck out Jeff Leise and got Daniel Bruce to ground out to second. The Huskers opened the ninth with consecutive hits by Matt Hopper, who also had three hits, and Brandon Fusilier, but the Aggie reliever retired the next three hitters, handing NU its first loss since Feb. 22.

In all, the Huskers stranded 15 runners and went just 3-for-20 with runners on base.

The Aggies, who saw their seven-game winning streak snapped in Friday�s opener, jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second by taking advantage of a costly Husker error. Justin Ruggiano reached on Joe Simokaitis� error to begin the inning and stole second before Jordy Mitchell�s double to right scored the Aggies� first run. NU starter Quinton Robertson retired the next two hitters, but could not escape the inning unscathed, as Craig Stinson lined Robinson�s 1-2 pitch over the fence in left for his first career homer.

Nebraska sliced into the Texas A&M lead in the fourth on Grose�s one-out RBI single. Hopper opened the inning with a double to left before Grose�s second hit of the game put NU within 3-1.

Robertson had retired seven straight Aggies before running into trouble in the fifth. A leadoff walk to Brian Bowe and a one-out single by Cliff Pennington put runners on first and third chased the Husker starter. Pat O�Neil was brought in to face Erik Schindewolf, who drove in Texas A&M�s fourth run of the game with a grounder to second.

Robertson, who had won his last three decisions, allowed four runs on three hits in 4.2 innings. The 6-5 junior struck out three and walked one in falling to 3-1 on the year.

Texas A&M starter Zach Dixon went the first six innings for the win, allowing one run and scattering six hits to improve to 3-0 on the season.

The Aggies tacked on another run in the sixth, as Mitchell, who had two of the Aggies five hits and a pair of RBIs, singled home Ruggiano, who opened the inning with a walk and stole second, to give the hosts a 5-1 cushion.

The series will conclude Sunday afternoon at 1p.m., as Husker left-hander Jamie Rodrigue (0-0, 7.71 ERA) will face right-hander Matt Farnum (4-0, 0.73)

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.