Flanders, who went 1-for-3 with two of the Tigers� three RBIs, singled through the drawn in infield for the game winner, scoring pinch runner Tyler Williams, as Missouri (23-12-1, 3-7 Big 12) won its second straight game on its final at bat.

NU reliever Brett Jensen walked Lee Laskowski on four pitches to open the Tiger ninth before Jeremy Becker walked Cody Ehlers, putting runners on first and second with no outs. A Ryan Rollo sacrifice bunt moved runners to second and third before Becker intentionally walked Kyle Johnson to load the bases. Mike Sillman came in to face Brad Flanders, who dribbled a single between third and short for the game winner, as the last four contests between the two teams have been decided on the last at-bat.

Jensen took the loss for Nebraska, allowing the run on a walk in falling to 1-1 on the season, while MU reliever Nick Admire improved to 3-0 with the win, pitching a scoreless inning and allowing one hit.

The Huskers (25-8, 6-4 Big 12) trailed 2-1 entering the top of the ninth, but rallied for the tying run off the Tiger bullpen. Daniel Bruce opened the ninth with a single and moved into scoring position as Taylor Parker walked Alex Gordon. Admire then allowed a bunt single to Jake Mullinax to load the bases with no outs. Curtis Ledbetter then tied the score with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Bruce with NU�s second run of the game. The Huskers had an opportunity to take the lead, as Braden Keith�s liner up the middle was knocked down by Admire, who recovered and threw to first for the second out before pinch hitter Chad Steele grounded out to short, sending the game in the ninth.

The matchup between Nebraska starter Zach Kroenke and MU�s Danny Hill lived up to its billing as both teams managed one earned run apiece over the first eight innings. Neither starter factored into the decision, while a controversial call in the top of the fourth played heavily into the game�s outcome.

Kroenke went the first eight innings for NU, allowing two runs (one earned) on just five Tigers hits, including one hit in his final four innings of work. The sophomore from Omaha struck out three and was helped by a trio of Husker double plays in lowering his ERA to 1.84. As good as Kroenke was, Hill matched him pitch for pitch, allowing just one run over the first 7.2 innings. The MU right-hander struck out five and also allowed five hits.

The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead off Kroenke in the second. Ehlers put the Tigers on the board with a solo homer to right � his 12th of the year and only second homer that Kroenke allowed all season - to lead off the frame. Missouri then got a break as Rollo�s single took a bad hop and went past right fielder Daniel Bruce for a two-base error, putting Rollo at third before he scored two batters later on Flanders� sacrifice fly.

The Huskers, who were held hitless through three innings, finally got Hill in the fourth, as Alex Gordon launched his 13th homer to center, a one-out solo shot, putting NU within 2-1. After a walk to Jake Mullinax, Curtis Ledbetter apparently tied the score with an RBI double to the left field corner, but home plate umpire Ken McQueen ruled the Mullinax missed third before scoring after an appeal. The controversial call infuriated NU Head Coach Mike Anderson, who was ejected after arguing the call.

Gordon, who went 2-for-3 with a homer and double, and Ledbetter, who was 2-for-3, had two hits apiece, as the Huskers were held to seven hits. It would be the final opportunity that either team would have over the next four-plus innings as the teams combined to strand three runners in scoring position before trading runs in the ninth.

The two teams resume the series Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., as left-hander Justin Pekarek (4-1, 4.28) takes on Tiger southpaw Nathan Culp (2-2, 3.96 ERA).

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.