Nebraska�s loss to the Bears sets up a rematch later this evening between the two teams, which will follow a rematch of the day�s first semifinal game between Texas and Texas A&M. Texas won that game by scoring three runs in the top of the ninth inning to come back for a 9-7 win over the Aggies.

The Huskers (44-15) suffered their first loss on a Big 12 Tournament Saturday in the history of the tournament, slipping to 18-3 all time in the tournament and 15-2 overall at the SBC Bricktown Ballpark. Baylor (40-20) picked up its first tournament victory against the Huskers, ending a four-game losing streak to NU at the Big 12 Tournament. The game was the Huskers� longest game since a 16-inning loss to Iowa State on April 18, 1999.

Mike Sillman suffered his first loss of the season despite pitching five scoreless innings of relief before being tagged for two runs in his final one-third of an inning in the top of the 14th. Sillman found his first trouble of the day by hitting Baylor�s Seth Fortenberry to lead off the 14th, before Chris Durbin followed with a slap single to left to put runners at first and second with nobody out. David Murphy followed with an RBI single to left for the go-ahead run, before Durbin was thrown out at third base for the first out of the inning. The run snapped a streak of 18.1 innings without a run for Sillman, who dropped to 1-1 on the season, since April 4.

Murphy then stole second, setting up an intentional walk to Zach Dillon. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch to set up an intentional walk to Michael Griffin to load the bases, before Mark Saccamanno sent an RBI single to center to give the Bears a two-run cushion. Patrick O�Neil came on in relief of Sillman and got Jared Clements to line into an inning-ending double play, but the Huskers went quietly in the bottom of the 14th to give BU closer Zane Carlson the win. Carlson pitched 5.1 innings of one-hit relief to improve to 2-4 on the season.

The Huskers trailed 5-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, after surrendering a single run in the first and four runs in the top half of the fourth inning to chase NU starter Zach Kroenke, who gave up five earned runs on six hits in just 3.2 innings. NU answered with three runs, including an RBI single by Gordon, who went 2-for-6 with three RBIs, in the bottom of the fourth to cut the BU lead to 5-3.

After the fourth inning, both pitching staffs closed the door until Gordon�s two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth tied the score at five and sent the game to extra innings. NU reliever Steve Hale set up Gordon�s heroics by pitching a season-long 4.1 innings of no-hit relief to keep the Huskers within striking distance.

Gordon and Jeff Leise, who went 2-for-6 with two runs scored, led an eight-hit attack for the Huskers.

Postgame quotes

Baylor Head Coach Steve Smith
Opening Statement
�At some point in the game I thought to myself, it really was a heck of game for the fifth ranked and first ranked teams in the conference. This game probably epitomizes the closeness of our league as much as anything can. When you are coming out of the loser bracket, you need heroes. You need guys to step up and give you performances that are maybe out of character of what they have done during the year. I though we got that out of our guys today.�

Nebraska Head Coach Mike Anderson
Opening Statement
�First of all great ball game, I think they canceled the 2nd one I�m not sure. Great ball game all the way around, I think the only thing the Huskers didn�t get done was get the win. Give them a lot of credit, Zane Carlson did a great job on the mound. I thought Mike Sillman did a great job too, probably extended him farther than he has gone in a long time. But you could just tell there was a lot of will to win that baseball game. Give them a lot of credit, let�s go out and do it again tonight.�

Nebraska 3rd Baseman Alex Gordon
On Zane Carlson�s pitching performance
�I mean he did a great job, he kept us off balance, he just competed really good, it was a hell of a ball game we just came up short. But we have to forget about it come out and win the next one.�

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.