LAWRENCE, Kan. – The West Virginia University baseball team clinched the series against Kansas on Saturday, shutting out the Jayhawks, 4-0. The Mountaineers improve to 18-12 and 7-4 in the Big 12 while Kansas falls to 15-13 and 7-7 in conference play.
 
Senior Derek Clark went the distance on the mound and struck out seven while allowing just three hits. It is the third straight outing the lefty has thrown 9.0 innings as he improves to 3-0 on the season.
 
At the plate, junior Brodie Kresser went 4-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore Logan Sauve added a pair of hits while freshman Spencer Barnett and junior JJ Wetherholt each had an RBI.
 
The Mountaineers jumped out to a lead in the second inning as Kresser and freshman Aaron Jamison executed a first-and-third double steal. Barnett followed with an RBI single to plate a second run for WVU in the inning.
 
In the fourth, West Virginia tacked on another run as Kresser and Jamison each had bunt singles before Wetherholt drove in a run with a rocket back up the middle.
 
Kresser provided extra insurance in the eighth as his single brought home the fourth run of the game for the Mountaineers.
 
That was more than enough for Clark as he was fooling Jayhawk hitters all game with five of his seven strikeouts concluding with Kansas hitters not taking the bats off their shoulders. He also got stronger as the game went on, retiring 13 of the final 14 batters to come to the plate.
 
Sophomore Sam White and Jamison also provided some help in the outfield as they made a pair of running catches in the eighth and ninth innings while battling heavy winds.
 
West Virginia will look for the sweep tomorrow afternoon. First pitch from Hoglund Ballpark is set for 12:30 p.m. ET.
 
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