Trailing 7-6, the Huskers came out energized after a 34-minute rain delay and plated three runs off Lobo reliever Jason Fernandez, highlighted by Bruce�s infield single that scored Curtis Ledbetter with the game-winning run. With runners on second and third and two outs, Bruce legged out an RBI infield single that was misplayed by Lobo shortstop Josh Mader, allowing an insurance run to score and giving NU a 9-7 lead.

"I got ahead on the pitch and just wanted to get the ball in play," said Bruce, who went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs. "It was a slow roller that I was able to beat out. It may have not been the prettiest hit, but I will take the result."

The Huskers, who improved to 2-0 with the win, enjoyed flawless execution, laying down five sacrifice bunts � including three by Jake Mullinax � and extended several rallies with solid base running.

"We were fundamentally sound today, and our execution on bunts and base running gave us chances to extend innings and get clutch hits," Nebraska Coach Mike Anderson said. "I think this win showed our team the importance of being fundamentally sound and doing the small things well."

"This was a big win for us because we were tested with adversity," said Mullinax, who went 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs. "We were down, and they had all the momentum, but we knew that we were going to come back and win. We got contributions up and down the lineup and our bullpen came through for us."

Tim Schoeninger (1-1) earned the win in relief, allowing two runs on four hits in 2.2 innings of work, as he came back after the delay to get the Huskers into the seventh. Brett Jensen and Mike Sillman, who earned the save with 1.1 innings of one-hit relief, held UMN at bay, as the Lobos had rallied in the seventh and eighth before Sillman retired the side in order in the ninth.

"We treated the game after the rain delay as a second game and took control in dominating fashion," NU Anderson said. "I�m extremely pleased with the performance of our middle relief, and Sillman was outstanding coming in and shutting them down late. It was great to see our bullpen perform well."

The Huskers got out of the gate quickly, scoring runs in the first four frames to jump to a 6-2 lead. The teams traded single runs in the first two innings, including Bruce�s second homer to lead off the second, before NU�s hustle in the third led directly to three runs. After Jesse Boyer walked to lead off the frame, Mullinax laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Boyer, who scored four times on the day, beat the throw of A.J. Spitaleri, putting runners on first and second. Gordon�s single loaded the bases before Curtis Ledbetter�s sacrifice fly to left gave NU a 3-2 lead. With runners on the corners, John Grose grounded into an apparent inning-ending double play to short, but Gordon kept the frame alive by beating the force at second, allowing Mullinax to score from third. After a wild pitch moved Gordon to third, Bruce hit a slow dribbler back to the mound that he beat out for an RBI single, putting the Huskers ahead by three runs.

After the Huskers tacked on an unearned run in the fourth, New Mexico came right back with three runs to knock out NU starter Justin Pekarak after 3.1 innings of work. With two on and one out, Matt Young�s two-triple chased Pekarek and put the Lobos within 6-4. Ryan Barba greeted Schoeninger with an infield single, cutting the Husker lead to one run. In the fifth, Chris Dabbs� two-run homer � his first of the year � off Schoeninger put New Mexico up 7-6.

Fernandez, who took the loss allowing three runs in three innings of relief, replaced Lobo starter Danny Ray Herrara in the fifth and retired the first six Huskers before running into trouble in the seventh after the rain delay.

Boyer led off the frame with a lead-off single before Mullinax� sacrifice, his third of the game, moved Boyer into scoring position. Gordon�s third hit of the day put runners on the corners before Ledbetter, who drove in three runs, plated the tying run with a fielder�s choice, setting up Bruce�s infield hit that gave NU the lead for good. NU tacked on insurance runs in the eighth, on an RBI single by Ledbetter, and the ninth, a two-out, two-run single by Mullinax.

The Huskers close out tournament play Sunday afternoon against Kent State at Noon (CST).

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.