OKLAHOMA CITY ? In the postseason, where implications are elevated, the Kansas University baseball team couldn’t be the spoilers they’d been so often this year.

No. 7 Nebraska, the top-seeded team in the Big 12 Conference tournament, gave eighth-seeded KU a quick loss in the first round Wednesday, scoring early and scoring often in a 9-4 victory at SBC Bricktown Ballpark.

It could’ve been KU’s fifth victory against a top-10 team this season. Instead, it knocked the Jayhawks into the loser’s bracket, where they’ll play Missouri at 1 p.m. today.

“I’ve been impressed with Nebraska all year long,” KU coach Ritch Price said. “The goal of coach (Mike) Anderson and the goal of his coaching staff is to win the national championship. They’re capable of doing that.”

KU’s players refused to say they were rattled by the team’s first-ever appearance in the conference tournament. But the Jayhawks’ usual offensive strategy — pouncing on opponents in the opening innings — was instead utilized by the more experienced Huskers, who were up 5-0 after three frames.

The Jayhawks (35-27) had few answers to Nebraska’s punishing offense, but outfielder Casey Spanish proved spectacular with all of the Big 12’s eyes upon him. The senior hit two home runs, including a tremendous shot in the eighth inning that left the stadium and hit a parking garage across the street in left field.

His other, in the third inning, cleared the 20-foot wall down the right-field line.

“After the first one, coach told me they were going to try to work me in,” Spanish said. “Luckily, I got a good pitch on a full count that he left over the plate.”

His second blast made Spanish the first player in two years to have multiple homers in a Big 12 tourney game. He’s now hitting .388 with 12 homers and 55 RBIs this season.

Kansas University catcher Sean Flynn, left, stretches to tag Nebraska's Matt Wells as Wells attempts to score from second base. The Huskers beat the Jayhawks, 9-4, in the first round of the Big 12 Conference tournament Wednesday in Oklahoma City.

But Spanish was the only standout on a lineup sprinkled with explosive bats — besides him, only freshman Ritchie Price recorded more than one hit.

Meanwhile, Nebraska (43-14) banged 18 hits. Seven different Huskers had two or more hits, including a 4-for-4 performance by Jake Mullinax, NU’s No. 9 hitter.

The Huskers admitted being thrown off by KU pitcher Kevin Wheeler’s off-speed pitches when the two teams met in April, but they had few problems Wednesday.

“Coach told us to scoot up in the box and keep our weight back,” Mullinax said. “It seemed to work pretty well,”

Wheeler was ousted after giving up eight runs and 14 hits in just five innings of work. He dropped to 6-6 on the season.

For Kansas, it’s do-or-die time. The Tigers lost 11-0 Wednesday to Baylor, setting up a Border War matchup with both teams’ seasons at stake.

“After a loss, we’ve never come in the next day and lay down,” Spanish said. “I don’t expect that to happen, either. If it does, we go home.”

Kansas University senior Casey Spanish (21) is greeted by his teammates after he hit a solo home run. The Jayhawks lost to Nebraska, 9-4, Wednesday in the Big 12 Conference tournament in Oklahoma City.

Nebraska 9, Kansas 4

Kansas 000 120 010 — 4 10 1

Nebraska 131 003 010 — 9 18 0

W — Aaron Marsden (8-2) L — Kevin Wheeler (6-6).

¢ 6Sports video: Jayhawks go to Big 12 Tournament for first time

2B — KU: Ryan Baty, Travis Metcalf; NU: Joe Gullion, Matt Wells, Jake Mullinax 2. HR — KU: Casey Spanish 2 (12).

KU highlights — Spanish 2-for-3, 2 HR, BB, 2 RBI; Ritchie Price 2-for-5; Matt Tribble 1-for-4, RBI.