Bruce�s fourth homer of the season of USD reliever Tom Caple gave the Huskers (7-3) the lead for good after USD scored three runs in the ninth to send the contest into extra innings.

With one out, Bruce, who 0-for-3 on the night and just 2-for-21 over the last six games, sent Caple�s 2-2 pitch over the fence in left center for his first extra-base hit since the opening weekend of the season.

Sophomore Brett Jensen, who pitched out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the 11th, earned the win in relief by tossing two innings of one-hit ball for his first collegiate win. Caple (1-4), who allowed one run in three innings, took the loss for the Toreros, who dipped to 7-12 with the loss, their fourth extra-inning setback in 2004.

NU had just eight hits, but used homers by Bruce and sophomore Alex Gordon and a two-run single by Colin Shockey to account for all five runs, while Husker starter Zach Kroenke tossed a strong 6.2 innings of one-run ball in a no-decision.

Gordon, who went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, put the Huskers on the board in the top of the first with a two-run homer to right off Kyle Collins. Joe Simokaitis drew a one-out walk and stole second before Gordon�s fourth homer of the season two batters later.

The Huskers extended their lead to 4-0 in the top of the third on a two-run, bases loaded single by Shockey. Jesse Boyer led off with a single and moved into scoring position on Simokaitis� ground out. With two outs, Gordon was intentionally walked while Ledbetter coaxed a walk to load the bases to set the table for Shockey, who blooped a single into shallow left.

Kroenke was rolling along, not allowing a hit since the second inning and retiring 13 of 15 Toreros at one point, took a shutout into the seventh before running into trouble. A single by Jordan Abruzzo and a Trevor Pike double put runners on second and third before Jose Ortega�s RBI single plated USD�s first run. Reliever Dustin Tmm walked Caple to load the bases, but got out of the jam as Joey Prast grounded into an inning-ending force play at second.

Kroenke went 6.2 innings, allowing one run on six hits in his best effort of the year. The sophomore struck out four and walked one in his longest outing of the season, but the Husker bullpen could not hold the lead for the left-hander. Collins also went 6.2 innings for USD, allowing four Husker runs on five hits, as neither starter was involved in the decision.

USD knotted the score in the ninth, as Freddy Sandoval, who went 2-for-5 with three RBIs, tied the game with a three-run triple to the gap in right center off NU closer Mike Sillman. Gavin Ng was hit by a Timm pitch to open the ninth, before Jeremy Becker came in and struck out pinch hitter Tristan Gale, but allowed a one-out single by Randy Curtis, putting runners on first and second. Sillman came into face Caple, who grounded out for the second out of the frame. Sillman then walked Prast to load the bases before Sandoval laced a 2-2 pitch into the gap in right center to send the game into extra innings.

USD, which stranded 11 runners, had a golden opportunity to win in the 11th, as Jensen hit Caple before Prast singled off the Husker reliever, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Sandoval�s sacrifice moved both runners into scoring position and NU walked Josh Hansen to load the bases. Jensen weaved his way out of the inning, getting Keoni Ruth to popped out to second before Abruzzo�s liner to short ended the rally the threat.

The Huskers continue tournament play Saturday afternoon, when they take on UCLA, beginning at 5 p.m. (CST).

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.