With A&M trailing 6-4 with a runner on first, Matt Alexander�s base hit � his third of the game - off Brett Jensen put runners on first and second. Jeremy Becker came out of the bullpen to strike out Cliff Pennington for the second out, but Mavroulis, who went 2-for-5 with four RBIs, sent Becker�s next pitch over the fence in right center for his third homer of the year.

"It was just a tough loss, especially at home," Nebraska coach Mike Anderson said. "We left a pitch up, and he took advantage of it. We just didn't get it done."

Becker, who had allowed one of 21 inherited runners to score in his first 17 appearances, suffered the loss, dropping to 0-1 on the year. NU had won 70 of its last 71 games when it took a lead into the ninth since the 2002 season, including a perfect 26-0 this season.

The Huskers (30-14, 9-9 Big 12) had a chance in the bottom of the ninth, as Colin Shockey, who went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored, coaxed a one-out walk on reliever Doug Frame, but the Aggie left-hander struck out Joe Simokaitis and got Alex Gordon, who was leading the Big 12 in hitting and RBIs, to pop out and preserve Texas A&M�s ninth last at-bat win of the season. Frame, the fifth Aggie pitcher of the day, fanned three in 1.1 innings of scoreless relief for the win.

The loss spoiled strong performances by Jensen, who pitched a career-long 6.1 innings of relief, allowing three runs on five hits, and first baseman Curtis Ledbetter, who went 2-for-4 with a homer and a season-high four RBIs.

Ledbetter broke a 3-all tie in the sixth with a three-run homer to right center, his seventh round tripper of the season. Texas A&M (35-14, 11-9 Big 12) cut the lead to 6-4 on Craig Stinson�s solo homer in the eighth off Jensen, who had kept the Aggies at bay since coming into the game in the third.

The Huskers struck for three runs in the bottom of the first, using two hits and some wildness by Texas A&M starter Kyle Marlatt to jump to a 3-0 lead. With one out and runners on the corners, Ledbetter�s run-scoring single plated Shockey, who doubled to open the game. After a ground out advanced both runners into scoring position, a passed ball and a wild pitch scored both runners, putting the Huskers up 3-0.

The Huskers couldn�t hold the lead, as Texas A&M strung together four straight hits to chase starter Dustin Timm after two innings. Matt Alexander�s solo homer � his first of the year � put the Aggies on the scoreboard before consecutive RBI doubles by Mavroulis and Cory Patton tied the score at three. A&M continued to threaten, but Jensen came out of the bullpen to retire the next three Aggies, ending the threat.

After the first, Marlatt settled down and retired 14 in a row until Shockey�s infield single opened the sixth. With one out, Gordon was intentionally walked, but as in the first inning, Ledbetter came through, sending the Aggie starter�s 1-0 pitch to the berm in right center for a three-run homer, putting the Huskers up 6-3.

The Huskers, who begin finals on Monday, will be off until next Saturday, when they travel to league leader Oklahoma State for a three-game series beginning Saturday at 7 p.m.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.