Stillwater, Okla. Sophomore Aaron Marsden scattered nine hits in eight innings, while No. 19 Nebraska snapped No. 17 Oklahoma State's 12-game home winning streak with a 5-2 victory in front of 1,673 at Reynolds Stadium Friday afternoon.

The 6-6 southpaw from Grand Forks, N.D, improved to 4-1 with a 1.64 ERA, striking out six in a 150-pitch performance, as he held the Cowboys (28-10, 7-5 Big 12) to a season-low two runs. Marsden pitched in and out of jams all afternoon, helping OSU leave 12 runners on base in only its fourth home loss in 23 contests.

Coach Dave Van Horn was impressed by Marsden's performance, as Nebraska snapped a streak of four straight series-opening losses dating back to March 29 with today's win.

"Aaron found ways to work out of jams, but he lives like that. That is how he pitches," Van Horn said. "He bears down when he gets runners on base and kept us in the game. He threw a lot of pitches in the first four of five innings, but did a good job after that."

The Huskers, who improved to 25-13 overall and 11-8 in the Big 12, broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the eighth, scoring three times off OSU reliever Shane Hawk (3-4), including RBI singles by John Grose and Daniel Bruce. Pinch hitter Adam Riddle drew a walk to open the inning and moved to third on Will Bolt's single to right, the second of his three hits, before Grose, who went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks to extend his hit streak to 10 game, singled between first and second to score Riddle with the decisive run. Hawk, who allowed three runs in 1.2 innings, intentionally walked Jeff Leise, as OSU brought in right-hander Justin Meccage. Bruce then sent a shot back up the middle off Meccage's foot for an RBI single to score Bolt before Jed Morris drove in the Huskers' third run of the inning with a sacrifice fly.

"It was a good win for us today," Van Horn said. "More than anything, we had some things go our way. I told our team a week ago that we were due for some breaks. In the eighth, Bruce hits a ground ball up the middle that their pitcher hits and if he doesn't get that, it probably is a double play and we get only one run in that inning. That was big because it gave us a three-run lead instead of a one-run lead."

Marsden, whose eight innings matched his career high, allowed a leadoff single to Jose Virgil, who had two of the Cowboys' 10 hits, in the ninth before red-shirt freshman Jeremy Becker retired both batters he faced for his second save, getting Paul Powell to ground into a game-ending 5-4-3 double play.

The Huskers jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on Jeff Leise's RBI single off OSU starter Chris Reilly. Bolt, who also scored three times and made several sparkling defensive plays, delivered a one-out single and moved to second on Grose's walk. NU then executed a double steal to move both runners into scoring position before Leise battled back from a 1-2 count to drive a single to right, as the Husker center fielder went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs.

The Cowboys had their best opportunity in the third, loaded the bases with no outs, but the Husker southpaw got out of the jam, as OSU managed one run, a sacrifice fly by Mitch Mitchell that scored Paul Powell, tying the contest at 1-1.

Nebraska took advantage of a pair of Reilly walks to manufacture a run in the fourth on Jeff Leise's sacrifice fly to take a 2-1 lead. Bolt and Grose drew back-to-back walks to open the frame before pinch hitter Brandon Eyeman's sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, setting up the Husker center fielder's second RBI of the afternoon.

Reilly went the first 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, but was not involved in the decision, as OSU tied the score in the bottom of the sixth. Nebasett Brown opened the inning with an infield single and moved to second on Rob Watson's sacrifice bunt before coming around to score on Jason Jamarillo's RBI double, one of three hits for the OSU catcher, into the left field corner

The teams, which combined to strand 23 runners, remained deadlocked until Nebraska's three-run rally off the OSU left-hander in the eighth.

The two teams are scheduled to continue the three-game series Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. Left-hander Jamie Rodrigue (5-0, 2.93 ERA) will take the hill for the Huskers and will be opposed by OSU right-hander Scott Baker (4-0, 2.61 ERA).

Notes: Today's game was delayed 1:15 at the start because of showers throughout central Oklahoma