Kansas baseball drops sixth straight

? Utah’s Cory Hunt singled over the outstretched arms of Kansas University right fielder Connor McKay with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 13th to lift the Utes to their second walk-off victory of the series, 7-6, Monday at Spring Mobile Ballpark.

Kansas was swept by Utah and dropped its sixth straight to close the regular season.

KU fell to 31-24, while Utah improved to 20-29.

The Jayhawks led, 6-4, through eight, but Utah rallied with two in the ninth off KU star stopper Jordan Piché to force extras.

The Jayhawks put a runner on in every inning from the eighth on and had runners at the corners with one out in the 13th before Utah reliever Luke West coaxed KU designated hitter Jacob Boylan to ground into an inning-ending double play.

West (4-2) earned the win after the Utes loaded the bases against Drew Morovick (4-3), and Hunt followed with his only hit of the day.

Kansas got nine of its 11 hits from the middle four batters in the lineup, including Alex DeLeon who hit his 10th home run of the year to become KU’s first double-digit home run hitter since Tony Thompson hit 21 in 2009. The two-run shot that gave Kansas a 4-0 advantage in the top of the third was the first home run given up in more than 50 innings this season by Utah starter Tanner Banks.

Jordan Dreiling went 3-for-5 to tie for the game-high in hits and also drew a walk. DeLeon finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and was joined with two base hits by McKay and Michael Suiter.

Kansas will open the Big 12 tournament at 4 p.m. Wednesday against West Virginia in Oklahoma City.

The Jayhawks are the tournament’s No. 6 seed, and WVU is No. 3.

Kansas 022 002 000 000 0 — 6 11 1

Utah 004 000 002 000 1 — 7 10 2

W — Luke West, 4-2. L –Drew Morovick, 4-3.

2B — Michael Suiter, KU. HR — Alex DeLeon, KU.

KU highlights — Jordan Dreiling 3-for-5, R; DeLeon 2-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBIs; Suiter 2-for-6, 2 R; Connor McKay 2-for-6, R, RBI.