The junior from Grand Forks, N.D., struck out 12 en route to his Big 12-leading fourth complete game of the year. Marsden, who improved to 7-2, earned his first win since April 18, holding a Bear offense that was ranked ninth nationally in hitting to just six hits, Baylor�s lowest total in over a month, to end the Bears eight-game winning streak.

"I'm thrilled with his performance," Nebraska Coach Mike Anderson said. "Not only with his pitches, but the little things that he does to put them away. He pitched with emotion. In the ninth inning, he was still strong and fed off the crowd."

Offensively, Alex Gordon went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, while Jeff Leise had two hits and a pair of RBIs, as Nebraska (41-13, 19-6 Big 12) won their fifth straight and moved a game ahead of both Texas and Texas A&M, as the Aggies downed the Longhorns, 6-4, in College Station. Nebraska can clinch at least a share of the Big 12 title for the second time in three years with a win on either Saturday or Sunday.

After spotting Baylor (36-18, 14-11 Big 12) a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a solo homer by Josh Ford, the Huskers took the lead for good in the bottom of the frame. Consecutive walks to Leise and Joe Simokaitis put runners on first and second before a wild pitch by BU starter Steven White moved both runners into scoring position. Gordon then sent a 1-0 pitch to center, scoring both runners to give the Huskers a 2-1 lead.

Nebraska, which improved to 25-3 at Hawks Field, extended its lead to 5-1, scoring three times off of the Baylor starter, who dropped to 6-4 with the complete-game loss. With one out, Gordon singled and moved into scoring position when Daniel Bruce was hit by a pitch and scored on Brandon Fusilier�s RBI single. Two batters later, White hit his second batter of the inning, plunking Jake Mullinax to load the bases. Leise then roped a two-run single to left, extending the lead to four runs.

"We had some big hits in some big situations," Anderson said. "Even though we missed a hit and run, we played fundamentally sound baseball tonight."

Baylor trimmed the lead to 5-2 on a solo homer by Paul Witt, but would get no closer, as Marsden didn�t allow a hit after the sixth and retired 11 of the final 12 batters he faced, allowing only a two-out, ninth-inning walk to Reid Brees.

The Huskers tacked on an insurance run in the fifth, as Matt Hopper opened the frame with a double and came around to score on Bruce�s RBI single, as Marsden cruised to his first complete game since a 3-2 win over Texas on April 18.

The two teams continue the series Saturday afternoon, as Quinton Robertson (8-1, 3.68 ERA) takes on Sean Walker (7-4, 4.93 ERA) in a matchup that will be televised statewide on Nebraska ETV and carried nationally on College Sports TV (Ch. 610 on DirecTV).

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.