GRANVILLE, W.Va. — Two days after officially clinching the Big 12 regular season championship, the WVU baseball team is in the midst of a season-long losing streak after a 7-0 defeat against Kansas ensured a series sweep in their final weekend of play before the postseason begins.

For the second time this season and the second time in the series, WVU was blanked by a pair of KU pitchers. The Mountaineers were held to two hits and they struck out ten times.

“They rolled in here and swept the No. 1 team in the league. They’re a good team. They didn’t have to use their bullpen very much because their starting pitching did so well,” said WVU head coach Steve Sabins.

WVU trailed 1-0 heading into the eighth inning before Kansas (42-14, 20-10 Big 12) put consecutive three-run innings on the board against the WVU bullpen. Carson Estridge was charged with five of the six runs allowed in the eighth and ninth innings. A three-run home run from Derek Cerda blew the game open in the eighth.

Starting pitcher Jack Kartsonas was brilliant for the Mountaineers despite falling to 6-2 on the season. He allowed one run on five hits in seven innings and he struck out eight batters.

“An incredible effort from Jack Kartsonas,” Sabins said. “He has been a warrior for us ever since he began starting.”

Despite a fourth consecutive loss and eight losses in their last eleven games, the Mountaineers left the field with the Big 12 Championship trophy, which was given out in a postgame ceremony.

“At the end of the day, we are Big 12 champs,” said WVU catcher Logan Sauve. “It is not the way we wanted to do it this weekend. But Coach Sabins was telling us that we have to put it behind us.”

“I am genuinely touched by our fans. I am thankful that they stayed. They supported. They chanted. I think it meant a lot to our team. That’s probably the best thing that happened this weekend,” Sabins said.

“More importantly than celebrating or being happy about a Big 12 title, it is important for our players symbolically to have something to turn the page. You have to compartmentalize. You have the regular season and we were the best out of 14 teams.”

Kannon Carr earned the win on the mound for the Jayhawks. He pitched into the sixth inning before giving way to Manning West to record the final eleven outs.

As the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Conference Tournament, WVU (40-13, 19-9 Big 12) will open up play in the quarterfinal round at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Tex. Thursday at 1:30 p.m. The Mountaineers will face the winner of the No. 8 vs. No. 9 game.