Kansas starting pitcher Alex Cox delivers to the plate during the second inning. Cox gave up one earned run in KU’s 4-3 loss in 10 innings against Creighton on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 at Hoglund Ballpark.

The Kansas Jayhawks line up for the National Anthem prior to their first home game of the 2011 season against Creighton at Hoglund Ballpark on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Tuesday's game was also the first to be played on the new artificial turf.

Creighton spoiled the home opener for the Kansas University baseball team with a 4-3 victory in 10 innings on Tuesday at Hoglund Ballpark.

James Stanfield paced the KU offense by going 2-for-4. On the mound, freshman Alex Cox allowed one earned run in 41?3 innings in his collegiate debut.

It wasn’t enough.

Creighton’s Alex Staehely blasted an RBI triple following a leadoff walk in the top of the 10th frame to score the winning run.

KU dropped to 1-3, while Creighton improved to 3-1.

“Obviously it’s the opposite end of the spectrum. We were as emotionally high as you could be on Sunday after pulling that one out against (No. 1) TCU,” Kansas coach Ritch Price said. “Today is obviously a huge letdown and there are a lot of disappointed guys in the locker room right now.”

Kansas senior T.J. Walz was saddled with the loss. He entered the game in the ninth inning and escaped without allowing a run, but then allowed the walk and triple one inning later.

The Jayhawks threatened in the bottom of the tenth with two baserunners, but Creighton reliever Reese McGraw induced a groundout off the bat of Brandon Macias to end it. McGraw also earned the victory after pitching 12?3 scoreless innings.

KU scored all three of its runs in the fourth inning. After Macias reached on an error, senior Jimmy Waters doubled to left-center to give KU a 1-0 lead.

Waters was picked off at second, but the Jayhawk rally continued when Stanfield doubled to right-center and sophomore Jake Marasco singled him home. Junior Zac Elgie followed with an RBI double on a shot to left-center.

That was all the offense KU could muster, however.

Creighton’s bullpen held KU hitless over the final 62?3 innings.

Tuesday represented the first time the Jayhawks played on their new synthetic playing surface — Astroturf Gameday 3D — that was installed last summer.

“There are no bad hops,” Kansas outfielder Casey Lytle said. “The only difference you feel is when it rains, it gets a little more slick. You just have to slide a little bit earlier. It’s great; you can get on the field right after it rains and you can just clear off the snow and you’re ready to go. It really has been great.”

The Jayhawks will host Saint Louis University in the first game of the Jayhawk Classic on Friday at Hoglund Ballpark.