KU baseball belts West Virginia

? A five-run first inning and a four-run ninth sent Kansas University past West Virginia, 9-5, on Saturday in Big 12 baseball.

KU’s Connor McKay went 4-for-5, Marcus Wheeler belted a three-run home run, and Drew Morovick (4-3) earned the victory.

“It was nice to see our guys grind and compete and find a way to go to a really tough place to play and win a road series,” KU coach Ritch Price said.

“Their starter (Ross Vance) was as good as advertised. You see the five-spot in the first inning and then that guy was lights out after that. He dominated our left-handed hitters. We had some really bad at-bats against him. I look at the strikeout totals. He goes six innings and strikes out nine. We didn’t get a hit from a left-hander until (Justin) Protacio singled in the sixth. He was really good on the mound today.”

The Jayhawks (19-24, 6-8 Big 12) and Mountaineers (23-17, 5-9) will conclude the series at 1 p.m. today, when KU goes for a sweep of the three-game set.

Kansas 500 000 004 — 9 13 0

W.Va. 000 100 202 — 5 8 2

W — Drew Morovick (4-3). L — Ross Vance (6-3).

2B — Connor McKay 2, Marcus Wheeler, Joven Afenir, KU. HR — Wheeler (2), KU; Jackson Cramer 2 (8), WV.

KU highlights: McKay 4-for-5; Dakota Smithy 2-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Wheeler 2-for-3, 3 RBIs; Justin Protacio 2-for-6.