The Huskers, whose 3-0 start is the team�s best in seven seasons, totaled 53 runs over the weekend, including 19 runs in the season opener against Northwestern and 22 against the Golden Flashes on Sunday.

The Huskers received four-hit days from Jake Mullinax and Joe Simokaitis, who along with Chad Steele drove in three runs apiece. Overall 10 Huskers had base hits, while eight players drove in at least one RBI.

The Huskers took command early, scoring twice in the first and six more in the second, highlighted by Steele�s three-run triple to take a commanding 8-0 lead. Daniel Bruce, Mullinax and Beau Sullivan all homered for the Big Red, as Bruce has hit three in the Huskers� first three games.

The Huskers jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning off Golden Flashes starter Jason Brunke (0-1), who allowed eight runs in two innings of work to take the loss.

Jesse Boyer singled to open the contest, moved to second on a Mullinax sacrifice and advanced to third on a balk before coming home on Alex Gordon�s ground out to first. With two outs and Curtis Ledbetter on first, John Grose�s fly ball was misplayed by KSU left fielder Kent Eichorn for a two-base error, allowing Ledbetter to score from first, giving NU a 2-0 lead.

The Huskers broke open the contest by scoring six times in the second, highlighted by Chad Steele�s two-out, three-run triple to left. NU went ahead 4-0 after a pair of walks and a sacrifice that moved runners to second and third, Boyer�s RBI groundout and a run-scoring single by Mullinax. The Huskers eventually loaded the bases before Grose plated another Husker run when he was hit by a Brunke pitch. Steele then cleared the bases with a triple to left, giving Nebraska an eight-run cushion.

The Golden Flashes broke into the scoring column with three runs in the bottom of the second, highlighted by a two-run homer to left by Marshall Woods, trimming the NU lead to five runs.

The Huskers used some timely hitting in the top of the fourth, stringing together five consecutive hits with two outs to plate four runs and push the lead to 12-3. A single by Grose and Steele�s second double of the game put runners on second and third for Bruce, who ripped a two-run single to left. Braden Keith then singled and stole second before Simokaitis extended the Husker margin to nine runs with a single to center. Gordon pushed Nebraska�s lead to 10 runs, 13-3, with an RBI single in the fifth that scored Mullinax, who opened the frame with a double.

Kent State came back with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to close to within 13-7 and chase Robertson. A hit batter, single and walk loaded the bases for Chad Kinyon, who sent Robertson�s offering over the fence in left for a grand slam. Robertson allowed a career-high seven runs on eight hits in five innings of work, but earned the win.

NU added to the margin with two unearned runs in the seventh on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Beau Sullivan before Bruce�s third round-tripper of the year led off the eighth. Mullinax then added to the Huskers� barrage with a three-run homer � the first of his career � in the eighth. Sullivan�s homer highlighted a three-run ninth for NU.

The Huskers return to action next Friday, Feb. 27, when they take on Northwestern State in the opening round of the Crowne Plaza/Rice Invitational.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.