Norman, Okla. ? Oklahoma’s Jonathan Gray pitched a two-hitter and struck out 12 as the 11th-ranked Sooners defeated Kansas, 12-1, Thursday night in Big 12 baseball.

OU claimed the opener in the three-game series and improved to 24-4 overall and 4-0 in conference play. The Jayhawks fell to 14-9 and 2-2.

The Sooners used a dominating pitching performance by Gray and a big three-run homer by Matt Oberste in the bottom of the first for their 12th straight victory and 19th home win of the season.

Gray did not allow a Jayhawk base-runner until the top of the seventh, when sophomore Dakota Smith led off the inning with a double.

The Jayhawks and Sooners will meet again at 6:30 tonight.

Oklahoma 12, Kansas 1

Kansas 000 000 100 — 1 2 3

Oklahoma 300 010 44x — 12 13 1

W — Jonathan Gray (5-1). L — Frank Duncan (2-3).

2B — Dakota Smith, KU; Anthony Hermelyn, OU; 3B — Jack Mayfield, Craig Aikin, OU. HR — Matt Oberste (8), OU.

KU highlights — Dakota Smith 1-for-4, run; Kevin Kuntz 1-for-4.