By: Shanna Rose
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.- The 16th-ranked West Virginia University baseball team dropped its third straight, losing to Kansas 8-5 on Friday night at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
Kyle West went 4-for-5 with a home run, his team-leading ninth of the season. Ellis Garcia had a pinch hit home run for the Mountaineers (40-12, 19-8 Big 12).
Starting pitcher Gavin Van Kenpem lasted just 0.1 innings, walking one and giving up one run on one hit.
The Jayhawks (41-14, 19-10) secured a first round bye in the first-round of the Big 12 Championship.
In the first, Kansas took a 1-0 lead. Brady Ballinger led off the game with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He then scored on Daniel Osoria’s sacrifice fly.
However, the Mountaineers would tie the game in the bottom of the frame when Gavin Kelly scored.
In the third, West’s solo home run to right field gave WVU a 2-1 lead,
The Jayhawks scored five runs in the fourth and two in the fifth.
The Mountaineers cut the deficit to 8-3 in the eighth.
In the ninth, Garcia’s two-run blast pulled WVU within three but that was all the closer the Mountaineers got.
Robby Porco had his best outing of the season with 4.0 scoreless innings of relief, striking out five while allowing just one hit.
The two teams meet Saturday afternoon for the series finale. It is Senior Day and ceremonies will begin at approximately 12:20 p.m.
Photo credit: WVU Sports
