The Huskers, who improved to 6-3 on the season, scored four runs in the first two games of the tournament before Sunday�s offensive explosion. Five different Huskers had three hits, including Alex Gordon, who tied a school record with three doubles, and Jake Mullinax, who equaled a career-high with four RBIs, including an inside-the-park homer.

Jesee Boyer, who stole three bases and scored three times, Curtis Ledbetter and Colin Shockey also had three hits, as NU reached double figures for the fifth time in 2004.

Shirek (1-0) earned his first win, tossing 4.1 innings of three-hit relied. The junior from Minot, N.D., faced one over the minimum over his first 4.2 innings of relief and held the Mountaineers scoreless until they scored a pair of unearned runs in the ninth.

West Virginia stuck in the top of the first off Nebraska starter Justin Pekarek on Grant Psomas� two-run homer, but the Huskers came right back with three runs in the bottom of the frame. After being held to six hits in Saturday�s loss to Minnesota, the Huskers had four hits in the first, including RBI singles by Joe Simokaitis, Curtis Ledbetter and Colin Shockey. Psomas led WVU, which dropped to 1-7 on the year, going 1-for-3 with three RBIs.

The Huskers continued to put the pressure on, scoring three more runs in the second to extend the lead to 6-2. NU had three hits in the inning, including an RBI single by Simokaitis, but used a pair of walks, two wild pitches and a Gopher error push the lead to four runs.

The Mountaineers chipped away at the Husker lead, scoring a run in both the third and fourth innings to close to within 6-4, as Pekarek lasted just 3.2 innings. The Husker starter struck out a career-high six batters, but allowed four runs on eight hits.

Nebraska regained the four-run advantage, scoring single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to build an 8-4 lead. In the fourth, Mullinax singled with one out and came around to score on Gordon�s RBI double to right. Steele opened fifth with a walk and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice by Beau Sullivan before Jesse Boyer�s two-out double to the gap scored Steele from second.

Maxwell, who dropped to 0-2 on the year, took the loss, allowing eight runs on 11 hits in 5.1 innings of work.

While Shirek kept the visitors in check, the Huskers broke the game open a single run in the sixth before adding four more in the seventh, highlighted by a three-run inside-the-park homer by Mullinax, the first by a Husker since the 2000 season, and Shockey�s RBI single.

The Huskers return to action next weekend, as they travel to San Diego for the Aztec Invitational at Petco Park. Nebraska will open tournament play against the University of San Diego Friday evening at 9 p.m. (CST).

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.