LAWRENCE, Kan. (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth Big 12 Conference slugfest defined by a decisive seventh-inning error, the Kansas Jayhawks rallied from an early six-run deficit to defeat the Utah Utes 13-9 on Saturday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark.

The victory completed a three-game series sweep for Kansas (22-10, 3-0 Big 12) over Utah (16-13, 0-3), which has now lost five straight games.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the bottom of the seventh inning with the score tied 9-9. Utah reliever Justin Abercrombie, who had been sharp, got the first out before shortstop Kody Flaharty committed a throwing error, allowing Kansas’s Easton Dykhoff to reach base. After a walk, a fielder’s choice grounder to first base resulted in another critical error by Flaharty, who muffed the throw home. That allowed Dykhoff to score the go-ahead run, unearned.

The floodgates opened immediately after. With two runners still on base, Kansas second baseman Cade Baldridge launched a three-run homer to left field, his fifth of the season, to blow the game open. All four runs in the inning were unearned, directly resulting from Utah’s defensive miscues.

The game began under mostly sunny skies with a stiff wind, and Utah’s offense came out hot against Kansas starter Jace Voegele. The Utes built a 9-3 lead by the middle of the fourth inning, powered by a two-run homer from right fielder Luke Jacobs and a two-run shot from second baseman Nevan Noonan. Utah collected 13 hits in the game.

Kansas began its methodical comeback in the first inning. After falling behind, the Jayhawks plated three runs, highlighted by a two-run single from center fielder Tyson Owens. Owens, the top star for Kansas, finished 2 for 5 and drove in five runs, including a pivotal three-run triple in the third inning that cut the Utah lead to 9-6.

The Jayhawks tied the game in the sixth on a two-run homer from shortstop Tyson LeBlanc, his 12th of the season, setting the stage for the seventh-inning defensive collapse by the Utes.

While the offenses combined for 23 hits, the pitching of Kansas reliever Mason Cook proved to be a turning point. Entering the game in the sixth inning with the score tied, Cook delivered four shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out six to earn the win. His performance stabilized the game after both starting pitchers and several early relievers struggled.

Utah reliever Dylan Gazaway took the loss, charged with two unearned runs over 2 2/3 innings. Utah pitchers issued nine walks in the contest.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat, which gave Kansas a 64.1% probability to win but forecasted a lower-scoring 8-5 final.

Kansas next travels to face Nebraska on Tuesday. Utah looks to snap its skid on the road at Utah Tech the same day.