The Cowboys as the third seed in the tournament, fell to 1-1 in pool play. Kansas improved to 2-0 after beating West Virginia yesterday.

Wes Benjamin started out the game for the Jayhawks. He lasted almost six innings before handing the ball over to Frank Duncan. Benjamin, gave up three runs and six hits. Duncan lasted two innings, while Jordan Piche finished off the win. Cowboys starting pitcher Tyler Nurdin lasted seven innings, while giving up four earned runs.

Three Jayhawks had multi-hit games in Michael Suiter, Dakota Smith and Trevor Tharp, who each had two hits in the game. Tharp drilled a home-run in the seventh, tying the game up at three, then later on in the  inning, Suiter brought home Justin Protacio. In the eighth inning, Smith doubled the ball to start the side for Kansas. He later scored from a RBI off Ka’iana Eldredge’s bat.

Next up for Kansas is a matchup with TCU on Saturday. The game begins at 7:30 p.m. central time. TCU is 0-2 in pool play after losing 10-3 to West Virginia.

May 24, 2013; Oklahoma City OK, USA; The Kansas Jayhawks improved to 2-0 in pool play after beating Oklahoma State 5-3 on Friday night. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

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Starting pitcher Thomas Taylor dominated the Mountaineers batters as he held the team to just four hits over eight innings. At one time, Taylor retired 18 straight Mountaineers. Dan Dierdorff picked up the loss for West Virginia.

With the win, Kansas improved to 32-24 overall, while dropping West Virginia to 31-26. The Jayhawks were able to avenge a three-game series sweep at the hands of the Mountaineers last month.

Justin Protacio got the Jayhawks off on the right foot with a lead-off double in the first inning. Michael Suiter later drove Protacio home. Kevin Kuntz also scored in the first. Later on in the game, Suiter added a second RBI, padding the lead for Kansas.

In the ninth, Jordan Piche loaded the bases only to retire the Mountaineers with a double-play, orchestrated by Protacio at second base. Piche earned the double play off the bat of Ryan McBroom, the Big 12 conference home-run leader.

May 23, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; The Kansas Jayhawks defeated West Virginia, 7-2 to open the Big 12 conference baseball tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Next up for Kansas is a match-up with Oklahoma State Friday night at 7:30 p.m. central time. Currently Oklahoma State as a second-seed holds a 4-2 lead over seventh-seeded TCU in the sixth inning. These four teams are in the same pool. Kansas meets TCU on Saturday night.

Michael Suiter made the second team All-Big 12, as he hit .308 this season and scored 38 runs. Suiter led the Jayhawks with 64 hits, and 32 RBI’s. Alex DeLeon, Ka’iana Eldredge, Kevin Kuntz, Justin Protacio, Dakota Smith and Thomas Taylor all were named to the honorable mention team. DeLeon was second on the team in hits with 62. He led Kansas with 10 homeruns and 17 doubles. Eldredge, made the team for his defensive prowess as a strong catcher. Kuntz, was third on the team in batting percentage at just under .300, while adding 47 hits. Protacio has 48 hits and 33 runs for the season. Smith for the year, added 51 hits while batting .260. Jayhawks starting pitcher Thomas Taylor for the season posted a record of 5-2 and an ERA of 2.32.

Kansas State’s Ross Kivett was named the Big 12 player of the year, while Harrison Musgrave from West Virginia earned pitcher of the year honor’s.

The conference tournament kicks off Thursday, not tomorrow in Oklahoma City, despite the terrible tornado that went through the area on Monday.

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May 21, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Jordan Piche was named newcomer of the year for the Big 12 conference. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports