Huskers Caged by Tigers, 2-0

Columbia, Mo. - On a night where Michael Mariot was sharp, Missouri's Nick Tepesch was superb, tossing a five-hit shutout, as the Tigers topped the Huskers, 2-0, Friday evening.

Tepesch (5-5) fired the first complete-game effort of his career, striking out a season-high nine Huskers, as Missouri (25-22, 8-13 Big 12) took the first game of an important three-game series for both teams. The junior right-hander retired the first 13 Huskers he faced and worked out of a trio of jams in the final four innings in snapping the Huskers' four-game win streak.

Tepesch needed to be sharp because the Huskers (23-25, 7-15 Big 12) got a great start from Michael Mariot in a losing effort. Mariot (5-6) allowed two runs on six hits over seven-plus innings, while fanning eighth Tigers. Mariot, who has worked into the seventh in his last 11 starts, has allowed three runs or less in five of his eight Big 12 starts.

Aaron Senne provided nearly all of the offense for the Tigers, going 2-for-3 and scored both of Missouri's runs, including his 13th homer in the sixth to provide Tepesch with a two-run cushion.

Missouri broke the scoreless deadlock in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Eric Garcia. Senne opened the frame with an opposite field double before Brett Nicholas moved him to third with a ground out. NU intentionally walked Andreas Plackis to try and set up a double play, but Garcia lofted Mariot's next pitch to left, allowing Senne to score.

The Huskers finally got to the Tiger starter in the fifth, getting one-out singles from Kale Kiser, Cody Asche and Josh Scheffert to load the bases, but Tepesch got out of the jam by getting Cade Thompson to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Nebraska Head Coach Mike Anderson that was the key to Friday's win, as Missouri took advantage of its scoring opportunity, while the Huskers squandered their best opportunity en route to being shutout for the first time this season.

"Mike pitched well enough to win, and their guy pitched well enough to win, and in a tight game like tonight, it boils down to two pitches," Anderson said. "We were trying to get a double play in that situation and Michael got a pitch up and they got a sacrifice fly out of it. In the same situation, we chased a pitch and grounded into a double play. It came down to execution."

Missouri got an insurance run in the sixth on Senne's homer, but Nebraska still had opportunities to pull even. In the eighth, a one-out double by Cade Thompson and a walk to Cory Burleson got the tying run to the place, but Tepesch struck out Chad Christensen before pinch-hitter Kyle Bubak grounded into an inning-ending fielder's choice.

"Tepesch had his fastball working, changed speeds well and kept us off balance all night," Anderson said. "We didn't get much from the top of our order tonight."

The two teams will continue the series Saturday night at 7 p.m. and the game will be on the Husker Sports Network and Huskers.com. Because of the threat for inclement weather, the game time could be moved up or the teams could play a doubleheader Saturday afternoon. Fans are encouraged to check Huskers.com for updates.