Waco, Texas ? Junior Tony Thompson had three hits, including his first home run of the season, while Kansas scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning to erase an early four-run deficit in a 9-8 triumph over Baylor on Friday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark.

KU junior T.J. Walz earned his fourth victory of the season despite surrendering seven runs in the first three innings. Baylor scored five runs in the third inning to take a 7-3 lead.

Kansas fought back though. The Jayhawks sent 11 men to the plate in the fifth inning to score five runs, including four unearned against Baylor starting pitcher Shawn Tolleson. After a one-out walk to Robby Price, Brian Heere singled and Thompson walked to load the bases for Jimmy Waters.

The Kansas left fielder hit a hard ground ball off the glove of Baylor first baseman Max Muncy, scoring a run. Senior Brett Lisher followed with a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 7-5. Sophomore James Stanfield then delivered an RBI single through the left side to cut the deficit to one. KU scored its final two runs of the inning on a walk and an infield single by Casey Lytle.

After the third inning, Walz settled down, retiring 14 of the final 17 men he faced. The junior pitcher scattered eight hits with three walks and four strikeouts in the game.

KU’s bullpen then closed the door as senior Travis Blankenship and junior Brett Bochy combined to allow one run on two hits over the final 21/3 innings to preserve the narrow lead.

Thompson led the Jayhawk offense with three hits, hitting a solo homer in the third inning and singles in the first and eighth.

The Jayhawks won their third straight to improve to 14-8 overall and 1-0 in the Big 12. Baylor snapped a seven-game home winning streak and fell to 12-8 overall (0-2 Big 12).

The second game of the three-game series will be at 3 p.m. today.