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Kelly Blast Gives Nebraska 8-7 Wild Win

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Reporter: WOWT

Pat Kelly broke a 7-7 tie in the sixth inning with a home run and Brandon Pierce came in from the bullpen to retire nine-straight Gophers as Nebraska held on for an 8-7 win Saturday afternoon at Hawks Field.

Pierce's relief appearance was his first since March 31st and he mowed down Minnesota (28-24, 10-10 Big Ten), including a pair of strikeouts looking in the ninth to secure the series win for the Huskers (31-19, 11-9 Big Ten).

Batting in the lead-off spot for just the third time this season, Kelly led the Huskers with a career-high four hits in five at-bats. His seven home runs this season are the most by a NU freshman since Alex Gordon hit seven in 2003.

Trailing 1-0, Nebraska scored seven runs in the fourth inning. After Kash Kalkowski was retired, Richard Stock, Josh Scheffert and Rich Sanguinetti each singled to load the bases. Kale Kiser drew a four-pitch walk to score NU’s first run of the game.

Cory Burleson followed with a double and Kelly singled to put runners on the corners and Michael Pritchard reached on a squeeze play that scored Burleson. A double steal gave NU runners at second and third for Chad Christensen, who hit a sac fly that scored Kelly from third. Pritchard scored the seventh run on a double by Kalkowski in his second at-bat of the inning.

Minnesota answered by scoring six runs with two outs in the sixth to tie the score.

The Huskers are now tied with Michigan State for fourth in the Big Ten while Penn State and Indiana are each one-game ahead and tied for second with 12-8 records. Ohio State (11-10) sits in sixth place while the Gophers are on the outside looking in with a 10-10 record. Purdue secured at least a share of the Big Ten title with a 14-3 win over Michigan on Saturday.