Lincoln -- Two costly errors led directly to three runs, as the White team opened up the annual Red/White Series with a 4-3 victory over the Red squad Monday at Hawks Field.

The White squad scored three unearned runs off hard-luck loser Tim Schoeninger (Denver, Colo.) in the top of the eighth to break a 1-1 tie. Daniel Bruce (Omaha, Neb.) reached on an error to open the inning before Tim Merrill was hit by a Schoeninger offering, putting runners on first and second. Brandon Fusilier (Coppell, Texas), who went 2-for-3 with an RBI, laid down a perfect sacrifice to move the runners, but second baseman Joe Gullion (Overland Park, Kan.) misplayed the throw, allowing Bruce to score from second. A balk plated the White's second run before John Grose (Henderson, Nev.) delivered an RBI single to score Fusilier for the third run of the frame.

The Red team nearly staged a comeback of its own in the bottom of the inning, scoring twice off Jeremy Becker (Scottsbluff, Neb.), who pitched the final two innings to pick up the save. With two outs, the Red team strung together three consecutive hits, including an RBI single by Curtis Ledbetter (Lawrence, Kan.) and a run-scoring double by Alex Gordon (Lincoln, Neb.), and was threatening again with runners on first and second before Bruce ended the inning with an outstanding grab of a liner by Kevin Belcher (Lake Forest, Ill.).  That would be the final threat for the Reds, as Becker retired the side in order in the ninth.

The three runs in the eighth were enough for senior southpaw Jamie Rodrigue (St. Clair, Mo.) to pick up the win in a contest that was a pitchers' duel for seven innings between Rodrigue and junior Aaron Marsden (Grand Forks, N.D.). Rodrigue went the first seven innings, allowing one run on seven hits, while Marsden, who did not factor in the decision, also went seven frames, allowing one run on six hits.

The White team opened quickly off Marsden, scoring in the top of the first on Fusilier?s RBI single that scored Bruce, who went 1-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. The Red team knotted the score in the bottom of the second, as Matt Wells tripled to left center and came around to score on Belcher?s sacrifice fly.

Gullion paced the Red team?s offensive attack with three hits, including a pair of doubles, while Andy Lomax (Lincoln, Neb.) chipped in a pair of hits and a walk in a losing effort. Chase Odenreider (Omaha, Neb.) also had two hits for the victors in the first game of the best-of-seven series.

The series will continue Tuesday at 3 p.m., as sophomore left-hander Brian Duensing (Omaha, Neb.) will take the hill for the White team, while right-hander John Brownell (Omaha, Neb.) will get the nod for the Red squad.