Nebraska (25-9 overall, 6-5 in Big 12) led 8-5 after four innings before the Tigers came roaring back, scoring three times in the fifth before breaking the game open with a five-run sixth, highlighted by a three-run double by Jeremy Hernandez, who went 3-for-4 with four RBIs for the victory.

Hernandez and James Boone drove in four runs apiece, as the duo, the No. 7-8 hitters in the Tiger lineup, went a combined 5-for-10 with eight RBIs. The win clinched the series for the Tigers (24-12-1, 4-7 Big 12) while NU has dropped consecutive series for the first time since a two-series span covering the 2001-02 seasons.

"We�ve had some tough losses, but we need to bounce back," NU Coach Mike Anderson said. "I feel confident about this team and the direction we can go, but we have to regain our confidence and bounce back."

Ledbetter tied his career high with four hits, including his fifth homer of the season, while Colin Shockey had a career-high four hits, going 4-for-6 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Joe Simokaitis also had three hits and a pair of RBIs, while Alex Gordon went 1-for-4 and drove in four runs in the losing effort.

The Tigers� 16 runs and 18 hits were the most allowed by the Huskers all season, as Nebraska walked a season-high seven batters and committed five errors. Tim Schoeninger (3-1) took the loss, allowing two runs in the sixth without retiring a batter, as the Huskers used six pitchers in the loss.

The Huskers chased Missouri starter Nathan Culp early on, scoring three in the first and four more in the second to chase the Tiger left-hander after 1.1 innings. NU used RBI singles by Jake Mullinax and Simokaitis in the first to jump to a 3-0 lead. The Tigers came right back with five runs in the bottom of the first off NU starter Justin Pekarek, using RBI singles by Cody Ehlers and Kyle Johnson before Boone hit a three-run homer down the left field line.

NU would come right back in the second, scoring four runs on five hits, including an RBI double by freshman Al Smith and a two-run single by Gordon. Simokaitis kept the pressure on, as his RBI single gave the Huskers a 7-5 cushion. One inning later, Grose would extend the lead with a solo homer off MU reliever Erik Dessau (6-3), but it would be the only mistake the Tiger reliever would make until the eighth, as he tossed 5.2 innings of relief for the win. Dessau allowed eight hits, but shut down Huskers until Missouri took control.

Phil Shirek came in for Justin Pekarek in the third and held MU scoreless until the fifth, when the Tigers put together a two-out rally. Brad Flanders homered to center to begin a stretch of five straight hits, as back-to-back RBI singles by Boone and Hernandez knotted the score at 8-all.

Ryan Rallo and Lee Laskowski opened the sixth with singles off Schoeninger, putting runners on the corners with no outs. NU reliever Jeremy Becker came in out of the bullpen and got Ehlers to ground into a run-scoring fielder�s choice, but Becker could not escape trouble later in the inning. MU loaded the bases before Hernandez cleared the bases with a three-run double to right before coming home on Gary Arndt�s RBI single, putting the Tigers up 13-9.

The Tigers extended their lead to 15-9 on Laskowski�s two-run homer before Nebraska chipped away at the Tiger lead, scoring twice in the eighth on an RBI double by Shockey and a run-scoring grounder by Gordon. The teams traded runs for the final margin, as MU scored an unearned run in the eighth on Zane Taylor�s RBI single before Ledbetter�s solo homer in the ninth provided the final margin.

The Huskers and Tigers conclude the series Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., as junior right-hander Dustin Timm (1-1, 2.29 ERA) takes the hill against MU right-hander Garrett Broshuis (6-1, 2.65 ERA).

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.