Pekarek, a fifth-year senior from Staplehurst, Neb., improved to 8-1 on the season, striking out seven and scattering seven hits over 6.1 innings, as the Huskers (36-21) topped the nation�s top-ranked team for the second time this season.

Pekarek, who has four of his eight wins against ranked teams, stretched his school-record string of shutout innings to 33.1 before Drew Stubbs� two-run double averted the Longhorn shutout. The streak broke the school mark of 27.1 set by Jamie Rodrigue (2000) and Phil Harrison (1984).

The Huskers, who are now 5-1 in Big 12 Tourney openers and 19-4 all-time in the Big 12 Tournament, scored four unearned runs of Texas starter Sam LeCure (7-3) in the fourth, highlighted by Chad Steele�s two-run single, to hand the UT starter his third setback in 10 decisions.

The Huskers took advantage of a costly error by Texas third baseman J.D. Reininger, turning that miscue until a four-run cushion. Jake Mullinax, who had two of the Huskers� eight hits, opened the inning with infield single before Alex Gordon walked and Curtis Ledbetter was hit by a pitch to load the bases. LeCure retired the next two hitters before the error allowed Mullinax to score. Chad Steele, who had two hits on the evening, then delivered a two-run single to right before Jesse Boyer ripped an RBI double down the right field line for the Huskers� fourth run.

The support was all that Pekarek needed, as the left-hander pitched out of jams all evening. The Longhorns left runners in scoring position in three of the first four innings.

LeCure, except for the fourth inning, was dominant, fanning a career 10 and allowing five hits over the first five innings, as the Longhorns dipped to 48-12 overall with the loss.

The Huskers extended their lead to 5-0 in the seventh, as Daniel Bruce was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Mullinax led off the inning off Kyle McCulloch with a triple before a pair of walks loaded the bases with no outs. With two outs, reliever Buck Cody hit the Husker right fielder, allowing Nebraska to add an insurance run.

Pekarek finally ran into trouble in the seventh, as singles by Robby Hudson and pinch hitter Ryan Russ put runners on the corners with one out. Drew Stubbs put UT within 5-2 with a two-run double to left center, marking the first runs Pekarek allowed since April 17.

Reliever Mike Sillman came and got the Huskers out of trouble by retiring the next two hitters, as he struck out four over a scoreless 2.2 innings for his fifth save of the season.

The Huskers will take on fourth-seeded Oklahoma State, a 6-5 winner over Texas A&M, Thursday evening at 8 p.m. Texas will meet the Aggies at 1 p.m. in an elimination game.

Nebraska postgame notes

*- Nebraska improves to 19-4 all-time in the Big 12 Tournament and 5-1 in Big 12 Tourney openers.

*- Justin Pekarek established a new school record for consecutive scoreless innings, breaking the school mark of 27.1 shared by Jamie Rodrigue (2000) and Phil Harrison. Pekarek, who had not allowed a run since April 17, went 33.1 straight innings without allowing a run and was the Big 12 co-Pitcher of the Week last week after tossing 10 shutout innings against Creighton and No. 18 Oklahoma. Pekarek now has four wins over ranked opponents, including two over No. 1 Texas, this season.*- Tonight�s attendance of 11,743 is nearly 43.5 times the population of Staplehurst, Neb. (population 270 according to the 2000 U.S. Census), Pekarek�s hometown.

*- Third baseman Alex Gordon started his team-high 78 straight game on Wednesday and is the only Husker to start all 57 games this season. With his first inning walk, he has reached safely in 54 of 57 games this season. Gordon equaled his career high (and team season high) with three walks (also vs. San Diego on March 12).

*- Nebraska has been hit by a league-high 95 pitches this season, a total that is the third-highest total in school history. Bruce, who drove in a run with his hit-by-pitch in the seventh, extends his school mark to 57 in his career.

*- Nebraska has now scored in all 57 games this season, and is the only team not to have been shutout this season. The Huskers have scored in 387 of the past 388 games dating back to the 1998 season.

*- Chad Steele has now hit safely in his last four games and picked up his six multi-RBI game and picked up his first multi-RBI game since May 11.

*- Mike Sillman now has eight career saves, moving into a tie for sixth place will Bill McGuire (1984-85). NU�s 12 team saves is the third-highest total in school history, as only the 2001 (15) and 2003 (17) teams have had more saves in a season.

*- Nebraska improves to 1-1 all-time against Texas in the Big 12 Tournament.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.