The Kansas University baseball team was undefeated in Big 12 Conference play for about three hours Saturday after it won the first game of a doubleheader against Nebraska, 7-6, at Hoglund Ballpark.

But the Jayhawks’ first Big 12 defeat came in the second game, a 9-3 loss.

The victory marked the first time KU began Big 12 play with a victory since 2002. Conversely, 2000 was the last year Nebraska started conference play with a loss.

For Matt Baty, it indicated the team’s ability to be competitive in league play.

“I think we’re ready to play in this conference,” Baty said. “We’ve struggled in the past, and I think this year we’re going to do some damage in the Big 12, and we’re going to be a top-five team by the end of the year.”

KU won a hard-fought game in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Jayhawks entered the inning hoping to break a 6-6 tie against Husker closer Brett Jensen.

Baty opened with a sharply hit ground ball to third base. NU’s Alex Gordon made a backhanded stab and launched the ball to first, but Baty beat it out.

Next, Ritchie Price laid a slow-rolling bunt down the first-base line, and Jensen, who appeared to have the easy out, bobbled the ball.

Then A.J. Van Slyke scorched a grounder to second base. Nebraska’s Jake Opitz dove and snagged the ball, but couldn’t get it to shortstop Joe Simokaitis in time to force Price out at second.

Kansas University shortstop Ritchie Price snags a grounder during the first game of a doubleheader against Nebraska. The Jayhawks split the twinbill with the Huskers on Saturday at Hoglund Ballpark.

Then, with the bases loaded and nobody out, Gus Milner blasted a deep drive to right field that dropped right before the fence and brought Baty home for the winning run.

Milner said he was pleased to get his second game-winning hit of the season, and that he didn’t feel pressure in that situation.

Hear Ritch: Nebraska postgame comments

“It’s always good to get a win and be that guy to get a game-winning hit,” Milner said. “Basically there were zero outs. All I had to do was put the ball in play, so there wasn’t too much pressure.”

The Jayhawks needed until the fifth inning to get their first hit against starter Joba Chamberlain, and by that point they were down, 4-0.

Three of the Cornhuskers’ first four runs came after two Alex Gordon home runs off KU starter Mike Zagurski, who lasted 5 1/3 innings and surrendered five runs off six hits.

Kansas University pitcher Mike Zagurski throws in the Jayhawks' first game Saturday against Nebraska. KU won that game, 7-6, but lost the nightcap, 9-3, at Hoglund Ballpark.

But Erik Morrison slapped the Jayhawks’ first hit, and that snowballed into a six-run inning thanks partially to three hit batsmen. Chamberlain pegged Van Slyke to force in a second run, then he was replaced by reliever Dusty Timm.

Timm didn’t fare much better, allowing three hits and four runs that gave the Jayhawks a 6-4 lead.

The Cornhuskers tied it in the eighth inning, but KU’s Don Czyz replaced reliever Kodiak Quick and shut the Cornhuskers down.

KU coach Ritch Price said Czyz was his go-to reliever.

“He’s been fabulous. He’s been our best guy without question for the whole season,” Price said.

Nebraska catcher Jeff Christy tags out KU's A.J. Van Slyke, right, in the fourth inning of the first game Saturday.

The Jayhawks could have used a performance like Czyz’s in the second game instead of a slipshod outing from starter Sean Land, who allowed four runs in 2 1/3 innings.

KU produced early offense against Nebraska pitcher Zach Kroenke, but Price said it wasn’t enough.

“I was disappointed in the second game that we weren’t more competitive from the starting pitching situation,” Price said. “We needed to match them with five or six quality innings, and we weren’t able to do that.”

The Jayhawks will try to win the series against Nebraska today. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Hoglund.