The sophomore fanned eight and took a shutout into the eighth for his first victory since Feb. 27. Kroenke�s (3-0) strikeout total was the second-highest total of his career, while he retired 14 straight Eagles between the second and seventh innings.

"It was one of Zach Kroenke�s best performances, and that is exactly what we need out of him," Nebraska Coach Mike Anderson said. "To get into the eighth inning for a Friday night guy helps a team throughout the entire series. He had a great performance today. He kept his pitch count down, got in control and did a great job."

"You just need to throw strikes with the guys we have out there," Kroenke said. "They can hit the ball as far as they want, but as long as it does not go over the fence, I know we have guys that are going to get the ball. You really don�t have to worry about too much — just get out there and throw strikes."

Daniel Bruce went 2-for-3 with three RBIs to lead the Huskers� 11-hit attack, while Colin Shockey was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and three runs scored, as Nebraska (11-4) jumped out to an 8-0 lead after three innings and won for the sixth time in the sixth time in the last seven contests. Six different Huskers drove in at least one run, including Al Smith, who belted his first career homer — a solo shot to center — in the third.

Kroenke, who allowed one run to lower his ERA to 2.48, continued a string of outstanding starts for Nebraska, as the Husker starters stretched their string of scoreless innings to 20.0 before Garrett Greer�s eighth-inning RBI single off reliever Phil Zander.

The Huskers gave Kroenke ample support in the early innings, twice in the first, three more in the second and two more in the third. Shockey opened the first with a walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch before Curtis Ledbetter�s two-out RBI single put Nebraska ahead 2-0. Bruce extended the cushion to 4-0 in the second with a two-run single before Alex Gordon�s sacrifice fly put NU up by five.

In the third, Smith homer and Shockey�s two-run double capped the early flurry for Nebraska, which knocked Shepard out of the game after just four innings. The left-hander allowed eight runs (five earned) on seven hits, while also walking five in his shortest stint of the season in falling to 1-3 on the year.

The Huskers capped their scoring in the fifth on Bruce�s RBI single and a run-scoring groundout by Jake Mullinax. Kroenke, who allowed one hit through seven innings, took a shutout into the eighth before Greer�s one-out RBI single gave the Eagles, who dropped to 3-11, their only run.

The Huskers and Eagles continue their series Saturday afternoon at 2:05 p.m, as Quinton Robertson (1-3, 4.88 ERA) takes on Chris Lambert (0-2, 2.74 ERA)

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.