LAWRENCE, Kan. (Interstat) — In a wild offensive display that defied pregame projections, the Kansas Jayhawks overcame an early deficit and outslugged the Utah Utes 14-9 in a Big 12 Conference baseball game Friday at Hoglund Ballpark.

The most important part of the game was a decisive fourth and fifth inning surge by the Kansas offense, which erased a 9-1 deficit and seized control of the contest. After Utah third baseman Daniel Arambula launched a solo home run in the top of the first inning for an early lead, the Jayhawks responded with a six-run fourth inning and a five-run fifth to complete a dramatic turnaround.

Kansas sent 11 batters to the plate in the fourth, keyed by a two-run double from Jordan Bach and a two-run, ground-rule double from Brady Ballinger. The rally continued in the fifth when designated hitter Max Soliz Jr. led off with a solo homer. The inning was extended by a critical Utah fielding error, leading to four unearned runs as Kansas capitalized with a series of walks and productive outs to build a 12-9 advantage it would not relinquish.

The offensive outburst made a winner of Kansas starter Mathis Nayral, who settled in after the first-inning homer to deliver a solid outing. Nayral pitched five innings, allowing three hits and one earned run while striking out four. His performance stabilized the game after the early Utah run and provided a bridge to the Jayhawks’ bullpen.

Utah reliever Landon Salvesen provided 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, and Easton Jones recorded a key strikeout in his 0.2 innings of work, but the Utes’ pitching staff collectively issued 10 walks and hit two batters.

Soliz Jr. finished 2 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs for Kansas. Ballinger drove in three runs on two hits, while Tyson LeBlanc went 3 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Bach added two hits and two RBIs.

For Utah, Arambula was 2 for 4 with his solo homer. Jake Long contributed a two-run double in the eighth inning.

The victory improved Kansas to 21-10 overall, while Utah fell to 16-12. The teams were scheduled to continue their series Saturday.

The game’s final score far exceeded the Interstat game simulator projection of a 7-6 Kansas win. The Jayhawks’ ELO win probability was 62.80 percent.