One big inning is often the culprit in a baseball loss. On Friday night against Stanford, it was the five-run first inning. On Saturday, the Cardinal three-run seventh served as the one big inning.

One big swing did the trick on Sunday afternoon.

Despite its second intense comeback of the series, Kansas (7-4) failed to prevent the sweep in Palo Alto, Calif., with the tying run left stranded on third base in the ninth inning of Sunday’s game. Picking up its first home sweep in more than a year, Stanford (7-5) broke open a 2-1 game in the bottom of the third inning in Sunday’s game off the bat of catcher Brian Juhl. With two outs and the bases loaded, the junior hit a grand slam over the left field wall.

“I think obviously it was the biggest swing of the game,” coach Ritch Price said. “You give up a five-spot in an inning and you’re battling the rest of the game.”

With two down in the bottom of the third sophomore lefty Andy Marks (2-1) walked shortstop Adam Gaylord in to give the Cardinal a one-run edge. Marks entered the series finale with a 0.73 ERA, but was unable to get that final out. Thus, allowing Juhl the chance to bat.

Making the most of the opportunity, Juhl gave his team a 6-1 lead by the end of the third inning and an uphill battle for Kansas the remainder of the game.

Marks settled down and threw a strikeout to end the inning, but wouldn’t last through the fifth after surrendering seven runs in his 4 1/3-inning start, which resulted in his first loss of 2007.

“I think he was very disappointed in himself,” Price said.

He knew Marks watched former Kansas pitcher Kodiak Quick save his team from being swept more than a handful of times on Sundays last season and now Marks puts that pressure on himself.

Much like the opening game of the series, the Jayhawks began chipping away at the Cardinal lead. Out hitting Stanford 14-9, Kansas never struggled getting the bat on the ball, but stringing hits together was a different story.

Junior outfielder John Allman did his best to rewrite that story by going 4-for-5 with three RBI on Sunday. In the top of the fifth, the outfielder knocked in freshman third baseman Robby Price to narrow the gap to 6-2. The run was the youngest Price’s second of the day after tagging a double to left to get himself on.

As Kansas continued to claw its way to even again, Stanford’s scoring drive slowed. A slow roller to freshman relief pitcher Thomas Marcin was ruled a hit and knocked in first baseman Brent Milleville in the bottom of the fifth. Stanford would not score again.

But with a 7-2 lead, the Cardinal wouldn’t have to.

A few insurance runs, however, might have taken the stress off Stanford coach Mark Marquess and company. The Jayhawks might not have topped their opponent on Sunday, but they likely caused some severe anxiety.

After a three-up, three-down sixth, sophomore first baseman Preston Land doubled in right fielder Nick Faunce in the top of the seventh. In his first start of the year, the redshirt sophomore Faunce went 1-for-3 and scored the Jayhawks’ third run of the afternoon, narrowing the lead to 7-3.

Believing in a comeback, Kansas was relentless.

“Part of that is that we need to get better starts and starting pitching so we don’t get ourselves in those positions,” Price said. “But at the same time I was really pleased with the way we battled back.”

Junior Casey Larson pinch hit to lead off the eighth with a single to right field. Taking his lead, senior center fielder Kyle Murphy put a single in right as well. Allman stayed red hot, knocking them both in while slicing the lead in half.

Inching closer, Stanford’s lead shrunk to 7-5.

Behind the arm of closer sophomore Paul Smyth, the Jayhawks kept the Cardinal off the board while they balanced out the scoreboard. The sophomore still has not allowed a run in his six appearances this season and has provided an effective shield for his offense.

Smyth induced a double play to set up a dramatic ninth inning.

Junior second baseman Ryne Price reached on an error by right fielder Michael Taylor to put a runner on with one out and the team down by just a pair of runs.

In five games, senior catcher Dylan Parzyk had yet to collect his first hit. He came up with one in an ultimate clutch situation to put runners on the corners and force reliever Brandt Walker out of the game.

For the fifth time in as many games, Stanford pitcher David Stringer was called in. Larson hit a sacrifice fly with Price on third to cut the lead to a nail-biting 7-6. Coming up big again, he finished a career high 4-for-5 with a run scored, Murphy singled to right, landing Parzyk on third.

“I thought it was a really good inning,” Price said. “When Simpson came up — he’s really been struggling — but I thought he was due.”

It was not to be. Stringer picked up his fifth save of the year when he struck out junior outfielder Brock Simpson to end the game along with the drama.

As for now, Price and his Jayhawks are looking for the positives in their first sweep of the season.

“It’s not often you lose three to a national power like Stanford and walk out feeling like you could’ve won two or three of those games.”

Kansas plays its next game against Oral Roberts at 3 p.m. on Tuesday in Tulsa, Okla.

Kansan senior sportswriter Alissa Bauer can be contacted at abauer@kansan.com.

— Edited by James Pinick