Backed by a strong showing from redshirt-freshman hurler Eli Davis, the Kansas baseball team earned the Sunday afternoon victory at No. 20 West Virginia, 6-5, at Monongalia County Ballpark.
Davis (4-3) tossed a career-high 7 1/3 innings and paced Kansas (20-18, 5-10 Big 12) to their seventh series finale victory of the season. However, West Virginia (24-14, 8-7 Big 12) kept it interesting by mounting a comeback to pull within a run.
Davis allowed three-straight hits with one out in the eighth and exited the game with two on and the Jayhawks holding a 6-2 lead. Redshirt-sophomore reliever Jonah Ulane gave up a double and a single before getting out of the frame en route to his eighth save of the season.
Kansas jumped out to an early three-run lead off WVU starter Kade Strowd (4-4). Eight Jayhawks stepped to the plate in the first inning with sophomore designated hitter Nolan Metcalf, junior shortstop Benjamin Sems and sophomore third baseman Skyler Messinger each driving in a run.
Metcalf drove in another pair of runs in the fifth off a bases loaded single to right field. Sems followed suit in the seventh with a bases loaded walk and KU took a 6-1 lead to the eighth before the late West Virginia rally.
Kansas will play host to Creighton at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
