MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — The Nebraska Cornhuskers defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers 12-7 on Thursday in a Big Ten baseball game. Nebraska improved to 39-14 overall; Minnesota fell to 30-21.

The Cornhuskers struck first, scoring in the third inning on Mac Moyer’s RBI double. After building a 12-0 lead through the top of the sixth, Nebraska held off a late Minnesota rally. The Gophers scratched across seven runs, including Jack Spanier’s two-run double in the sixth and Jack Bello’s RBI groundout in the seventh, but could not close the gap.

Nebraska finished with 15 hits to Minnesota’s eight. Key contributors included Josh Overbeek, who doubled and singled with three RBIs, and Moyer, who drove in two runs. Pitchers Carson Jasa, Tucker Timmerman and Pryce Bender combined for the Cornhuskers. For Minnesota, pitchers Josh Kirchhoff, Cole Selvig and Caden Capomaccio saw action, while Brayden Hellum doubled and drove in a run.

The teams meet again Friday and Saturday to complete the series.