Morgantown, W.Va. ? Kansas University jumped to a four-run lead in just two innings but couldn’t score again in a 5-4 Big 12 baseball loss to West Virginia on Sunday.
Despite the Sunday setback, KU won the series, two games to one.
“It was huge for us to come in here and get the series win,” KU coach Ritch Price said. “We came into the weekend at the bottom of the conference standings, but we were able to show we can compete and win games. Our pitching has taken huge strides from the beginning of the season, and I hope we can keep improving.”
Kansas (19-25 overall, 6-9 Big 12) took a 4-0 lead in the top of the second thanks to RBI walks by Ryan Pidhalchuk and Tommy Mirabelli and RBI singles from Justin Protacio and Connor McKay.
WVU (24-17, 6-9) pulled within 4-3 in the bottom of the frame, then won it with a two-run seventh.
Kansas will host Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a nonconference game at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Kansas 040 000 000 — 4 9 0
West Virginia 030 000 20x — 5 9 0
W — Chad Donato, 6-4. L — Blake Wieman, 1-7. Sv — Blake Smith, 6.
HR — Taylor Munden, Shaun Wood, WVU.
Kansas highlights — Justin Protacio 3-for-5, RBI; Joven Afenir 2-for-3, R.
