Box Score LAWRENCE, Kan. – The West Virginia University baseball team lost the final game of a three-game series at Kansas, 5-2 on Sunday afternoon in Lawrence, Kansas.
 
The Mountaineers (24-21, 7-11 Big 12) were held to two runs on seven hits. The Jayhawks (22-25, 5-12 Big 12) scored five runs on eight hits while committing one error.
 
Junior second baseman Kyle Gray had two hits, including a home run, to extend his hit streak to 22 games, the longest by a Mountaineer since Dan DiBartolomeo's, 23-game streak in 2009. Gray hit his 13th home run of the season and fourth of the weekend in the ninth inning and is tied for seventh-most homers in a single season in program history.
 
Along with Gray (23 games), junior right fielder Darius Hill (21) and sophomore Marques Inman (20) also extended their career-long reached-base streaks, as Inman had a team-high-tying two hits and Hill a walk.
 
Sophomore right-handed starter Isaiah Kearns struck out a career-best nine batters in 5.0 innings, striking out the side twice. He allowed three runs on five hits with one walk and falls to 3-2 on the season.
 
Kearns struck out the side in the first, and Inman and Gray both singled to lead off the second, but a double play ended the inning. Gray's single, on a bunt to second base in his first at-bat, was what extended his hit streak.
 
WVU left two on in the fourth, as Inman singled and Gray walked with two outs. In the bottom half, Kearns proceeded to strike out the side again, leaving a runner on second after a one-out single and stolen base.
 
The Mountaineers took a 1-0 lead in the fifth, scoring first for the third time in the series and the 26th time this year. Kearns singled, stole second and scored when junior left fielder Braden Zarbnisky doubled to right-center on a 1-2 pitch with two outs.
 
Kansas answered to take a 3-1 lead in the fifth. A leadoff double was followed by a two-run home run by Benjamin Sems. James Cosentino then hit a solo home run with two outs.
 
Zarbnisky relieved Kearns on the mound to start the sixth and retired the Jayhawks in order, but KU added two more in the seventh to make it 5-1 on a leadoff home run by Owen Taylor and an RBI single with two outs.
 
Two reached with two outs for West Virginia in the eighth inning, as sophomore center fielder Brandon White doubled and Hill walked. However, a groundout ended the inning.
 
Sophomore right-handed reliever Alek Manoah came on in the bottom of the eighth and pitched a perfect inning.
 
Gray led off the ninth with a solo home run, his fourth of the weekend, to make it 5-2. Junior catcher Ivan Gonzalez reached on a one-out error, but the Mountaineers could not bring another run across.
 
West Virginia returns home to host Virginia Tech on Wednesday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m. ET, at Monongalia County Ballpark. It is a Gold Rush, and fans also can play Baseball Bingo. Tickets are available at WVUGAME.com, by calling 1-800-WVU GAME, at the Mountaineer Ticket Office at the WVU Coliseum or on gameday at Monongalia County Ballpark. The game will be televised regionally on AT&T SportsNet.
 
NOTES: West Virginia falls to 24-21 on the season and 7-11 in Big 12 play … The Mountaineers are 10-9 all-time vs. Kansas … WVU scored first for the third time in the series and the 26th time this season … Kyle Gray extended his hit streak to 22 consecutive games, the longest by a Mountaineer since Dan DiBartolomeo's 23-game hit streak in 2009 … He hit his fourth home run of the weekend and is now tied for seventh-most in program history with 13 homers this year … Gray has 16 home runs in his career … Gray (23 games), Darius Hill (21) and Marques Inman (20) all extended their career-long reached-base streaks … Isaiah Kearns struck out a career-best nine batters in 5.0 innings, striking out the side twice.
 
Single game tickets for the 2018 season are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets at WVUGAME.com, call 1-800-WVU GAME or visit the Mountaineer Ticket Office at the WVU Coliseum. The 2018 schedule, with game times, can be found on the baseball schedule page on WVUsports.com.
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow WVU Baseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and visit WVUsports.com.