• Box Score

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AUSTIN, Texas — Nebraska had No. 2-ranked Texas down to its final out Friday night before a nagging problem bit the Huskers once again.

The Longhorns became the fifth opponent to beat NU in its final at-bat, walking off with a 6-5 victory at Disch-Falk Field as Cameron Rupp hit a three-run homer off reliever Kurt Giller.

In losing their Big 12 opener, the Huskers failed to hold leads of 4-1 and 5-3 against last season's College World Series runners-up.

“This team is troubled by the fact that we can't finish,” NU coach Mike Anderson said. “We need someone to step up that can do that and take charge. We have a lot of guys who are determined and putting us in position to finish games, but the bottom line is that we have to finish on the mound late if we want to win baseball games.”

Texas (14-4) stopped a five-game winning streak for Nebraska (8-8) and evened the teams' all-time series at 26-26. The Huskers have won four of the last five NU-UT series played in Austin.

They were one out from starting this one off right. Giller, in relief of starter Casey Hauptman, held the Longhorns scoreless through the seventh and eighth innings. Nebraska added a run in the eighth on an RBI double by Cody Asche for its 5-3 lead.

In the ninth, Giller retired the first two Longhorns before pinch hitter Jordan Weymouth doubled — his first hit of the season — and Kevin Keyes drew a walk. Rupp followed by blasting Giller's next pitch down the right-field line for the dramatic finish before a crowd of 7,240.

Texas reliever Chance Ruffin (3-1) became the winner after pitching 123 perfect innings.

NU managed seven hits and five runs in 713 innings against Texas starter Taylor Jungmann, who went into Friday with a 2-0 record and 0.93 ERA in four starts. Husker right fielder Adam Bailey homered and doubled among his three hits, and Asche had three hits and three RBIs.

“We did a good job,” Anderson said. “We were disciplined. We took what he gave us and didn't try to do too much. The balls we hit were mostly opposite field. I thought we were pretty determined in our at-bats tonight.”

Texas came into the three-game series leading the Big 12 in ERA at 2.10, with opponents batting just .219 against Longhorn pitchers.

Bailey struck right away with a solo home run in the top of the first inning. Nebraska gave Hauptman some cushion in the sixth as Bailey hit an RBI double and Asche added a two-run single.

Texas, however, got two important runs in the bottom of the sixth when it seemed Hauptman was cruising. Kevin Lusson had an RBI double and Cohl Walla a run-scoring single to keep the Longhorns within 4-3.

Hauptman allowed eight hits in six innings, striking out five and walking just one. Giller (0-1) retired eight of the first nine batters he faced before Weymouth's double in the ninth.

NU right-hander Michael Mariot (1-2, 4.68 ERA) will start the second game of the series today at 3 p.m. against Cole Green (4-0, 2.59).

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