A row of dejected Jayhawks sat in the dugout on the heels of yet another blown lead and crushing defeat.

Kansas (31-23-1, 11-14-1) led from the first inning on, but could only watch as Oklahoma rallied for four runs in the ninth to steal a 8-7 victory on Saturday night.

“That’s the fourth time we’ve had a three run lead in the ninth and couldn’t close the door in the conference,” coach Ritch Price said.

The implication of the most recent late-game squander is even greater.

With the deflating loss comes the reality that the Jayhawks may have let any chance of making the NCAA Tournament slip away, barring the automatic bid garnered from winning the Big 12 Tournament.

“I think with what was at stake tonight, without question that was the toughest loss of the year,” coach Price said.

The Jayhawks appeared in control of the game right from the first inning when they struck for four quick runs, two coming on a two out RBI single by senior first baseman Brett Lisher.

Kansas then tacked on three more in the fourth, two scoring on a two RBI triple by junior center fielder Brian Heere.

All the while, senior Cameron Selik was solid from the mound. Selik relinquished four runs to the potent Sooners lineup, but never allowed more than one to score in a single inning.

Selik turned in seven innings, surrendering only six hits and striking out five. Coach Price said before the game that he needed seven out of Selik, and praised the senior for giving everything he had.

“We needed a great pitching performance tonight to win, and we got it from him,” Price said.

In the end, even that wasn’t enough.

After junior Wally Marciel tossed a scoreless eighth to preserve Kansas’ 7-4 lead, he trotted back out for the ninth where he sandwiched an infield single between two outs.

Marciel then issued a walk, which got him pulled in lieu of sophomore Colton Murray, and brought the tying run to the plate.

“We’ve got to make that guy swing the bat,” coach Price said. “You can’t walk that guy to get the tying run to the dish.”

With a three run cushion and only one out to record, Murray couldn’t seal the deal.

“You can never be content or comfortable with a lead in the Big 12,” Heere said.

Murray allowed a single which scored Oklahoma’s fifth run, and then another which loaded the bases for Sooner catcher Tyler Ogle.

Ogle pounded a double into the gap in right-center field, which cleared the bases, erased Kansas’ lead and put Oklahoma on top 8-7.

The Jayhawks threatened to tie in the ninth when junior left fielder Casey Lytle and Lisher worked back-to-back walks to begin the inning. But two straight batters struck out, and junior shortstop Brandon Macias’ deep drive to right field fell harmlessly into the Sooner fielder’s mitt.

Just like that, the game – and perhaps any chance Kansas had at a postseason run – ended.

“It’s an awful feeling,” coach Price said. “We had a chance to win tomorrow and be back to .500 and be in solid shape to make the NCAA Tournament, and we let this one get away. I feel like I let down all the seniors.”