A big fifth inning proved to be the difference as Kansas baseball dropped game two of a three-game series with Indiana State, 9-3, on Saturday at Hoglund Ballpark.

The Jayhawks made a brief comeback in the with junior shortstop Skyler Messinger scoring in the bottom of the third inning. Junior first baseman Nolan Metcalf followed that up with a home run to cut the Sycamores’ lead to 3-2.

However, Indiana State put the game away with a five-run fifth inning. KU brought out several arms from the bullpen to stop the bleeding — including junior lefty Daniel Hegarty and sophomores Stone Parker, Hunter Freese and Kahi Bisho — but the damage was already done.

Both sides added a run in the eighth inning, but by that point the game was already decided.

KU will play Indiana State in the final game of the series on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.