Kroenke improved to 4-0, holding the Jayhawks, which led the Big 12 with a .346 average, to two runs on five hits in six-plus innings, before Brett Jensen and Mike Sillman preserved the win with three scoreless innings of relief.

Jensen retired six of the seven Jayhawks he faced before Sillman pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season. NU relievers have not allowed a run in their last 21.1 innings of work, dating back to March 17.

The Huskers (15-4, 1-0 Big 12) got all of the offense they needed early on, scoring twice in the first and another run in the fourth off Kansas starter Ryan Knippschild, who tossed a complete game in defeat.

"It was a good close game today and is the kind of game you expect on a Friday," Nebraska Coach Mike Anderson said. "You have to give a lot of credit to KU�s pitcher; he did a great job and was in the zone all day. Give him some credit, but give us some too for scoring early and getting it done."

In the first, Knippschild hit Jesse Boyer with his first pitch of the game and then misplayed Daniel Bruce�s sacrifice bunt, putting runners on first and second. The error proved costly two batters later, as Gordon ripped an 0-2 pitch into center for a two-run single.

"It was a key hit, especially in the first inning," Anderson said of Gordon�s sixth game-winning RBI of the season. "I told him to be patient, and sure enough he got a 0-2 pitch. Letting Alex Gordon beat you on a 0-2 isn�t the way you want to lose a ball game."

Nebraska extended its lead to 3-0 in the fourth, as consecutive singles by Colin Shockey and John Grose, who both had two hits, put runners on first and second with no outs. Johnny Bowden then sacrificed both runners into scoring position before Simokaitis� grounder to short scored Shockey with NU�s third run.

Knippschild (5-3) settled down and pitched well, striking out seven and scattering 10 hits over eight innings.

Kroenke, who struck out four, took a shutout into the seventh, but ran into trouble, as the first three Jayhawks (21-10-1, 0-1 Big 12) all had hits off the Husker left-hander. Jared Schweitzer�s RBI double scored Travis Metcalf before Andy Scholl�s RBI single put the Jayhawks within 3-2.

KU would not get any closer, as Jensen finished the seventh by retiring the next three hitters, including an outstanding diving catch by first baseman Curtis Ledbetter off A.J. Sibley�s bunt attempt. The Jayhawks threatened in the ninth off Sillman, putting the tying run on third with two outs, but the Husker closer got Ritchie Price to foul out to third to end the game, NU�s eighth straight victory.

Matt Tribble was the only KU player with more than one hit, going 2-for-4, as the Jayhawks lost for just the third time in the last 17 games.

The two teams continue the series Saturday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. (CST), as Quinton Robertson (1-3, 4.94 ERA) takes on Clint Schamback (2-0, 3.90 ERA)

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.