GRANVILLE, W.Va. – The West Virginia University baseball team fell 3-1 in the series opener against Kansas on Friday evening at Monongalia County Ballpark.

 

The Mountaineers (23-16, 5-8 Big 12) scored one run on four hits with no errors, while the Jayhawks (18-24, 5-8 Big 12) needed just three runs on seven hits with one error.

 

Freshman right-hander BJ Myers (2-3) pitched another quality start, but dropped his second straight. Myers gave up two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and five walks.

 

“BJ can’t walk five guys, that’s what he did tonight,” coach Randy Mazey said. “Had he not done that he could’ve got out of the fifth inning with one run. After the sac fly there were two outs with nobody on base and then he walked somebody. You just have to limit the damage when that happens.”

 

Kansas’ Ben Krauth (6-3) picked up the victory in 6.1 innings after giving up just three hits. Krauth allowed one run, unearned, with eight strikeouts and four walks.

 

“That lefty (Krauth) went out there and really pitched well,” Mazey said. “The chances we did have to score were walks. He walked the bases loaded in one inning, and anytime we got anything going he just picked us off first base. I think he started walking us on purpose just so he could pick us off. He was really good tonight.”

 

Kansas nearly scored the first run of the game in the top of the first on a two-out single to right field by Michael Tinsley, but sophomore right field Shaun Wood threw out Joven Afenir at the plate to preserve the scoreless tie.

 

West Virginia took a 1-0 lead with two outs in the bottom of the first. Senior third baseman Justin Fox reached on an error by the third baseman, stole second base and scored on a double to left center field by sophomore first baseman Jackson Cramer.

 

A balk gave the Jayhawks a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth as Kansas had the bases loaded and Connor McKay scored. Kansas got on the board when Tommy Mirabelli tripled to right field with one out. Mirabelli scored in the next at bat on a sacrifice fly to left field by Afenir.

 

West Virginia had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth when it loaded the bases with two outs, but freshman second baseman Kyle Davis struck out to strand the runners.

 

Kansas added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Justin Protacio tripled to right center field to lead off and scored on a single through the right side by Tommy Mirabelli to bring the score to 3-1.

 

West Virginia and Kansas return to action on Saturday at 11 a.m. The Mountaineers will send junior left-hander Ross Vance (6-2) to the mound and he will face Jayhawks right-hander Drew Morovick (3-3).

 

The game will feature a free video stream, courtesy of Coca-Cola. The game can be heard throughout the state on affiliates of the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG with Jeff Culhane and Ernie Galusky on the call.

 

Additionally, fans can listen to the broadcast via the WVU Gameday App on their mobile device, as well as the TuneIn Radio App. WVUsports.com also will carry free live audio via the LeanStream Player at WVUsports.com/audio.