MORGANTOWN — No. 7 Kansas took a 2-1 lead over then No. 15 West Virginia baseball in the second inning in the final game of the series. The Jayhawks looked like they’d finally figured it out and had a chance at avoiding a series sweep.

But in the third inning, the Mountaineers power hitter Sean Smith came to the plate. Smith launched a home run to center for a two-run homer, squandering any momentum Kansas had in the following inning. From there, WVU went on to score 10 runs, mercy-rule the Jayhawks and sweep the series. Smith celebrated in the dugout with a WVU football helmet on.

Before the last two series, the Mountaineers weren’t looked at as a home run-hitting team. They are last in home runs, and even Steve Sabins mentioned a couple of times that’s not the team’s identity. But that’s kind of switched as of late.

In the last six games, the Mountaineers have hit 13 home runs and have had at least one home run in each game.

Sabins thinks there are a couple of factors as to why WVU is starting to hit some of them out of the park.

“We were last in the Big 12 in home runs, and so some of it has to do with ballpark factors,” Sabins said. “Some of it has to do with the cold. Some of it has to do with being on the road. Some of it has to do with swings and approach.”

WVU has some power hitters in the lineup. Matthew Graveline has power, Smith was brought in to hit some out, and then Gavin Kelly always has a big bat. As the season moved on, those hitters are hitting their stride, and every hitter in the starting lineup, aside from Armani Guzman, can muscle one out.

Sabins thinks the team is finally averaging out.

“It didn’t make sense, like we have guys that are leading the country in barrels that had five or six home runs,” Sabins said. “And so if you hit enough balls hard and in the air, you’re going to start hitting some home runs.”

Smith and Kelly were the two who’ve really found success recently, especially Kelly. Kelly had a five-game home run streak and had six in that span. The 6-foot, 175-pound sophomore leads the team with 12 home runs and still has the third-best batting average in the Big 12. Smith is right there with Kelly and has hit the second-most on the team with eight.

Both don’t have anywhere close to some of the top power hitters in the conference. There are multiple hitters with over 20 and 25 home runs. But, recently, both Kelly and Smith have been raking.

“Sean Smith has learned how to pull the ball in the air,” Sabins said. “He wasn’t really able to do that. Gavin Kelly is starting to be able to understand, like in certain counts and situations, to get the bat head out and take that risk of jumping a pitch. Maybe that might lead to a little bit more swing and miss, occasionally, in earlier counts. So there’s guys evolving.”

All the home runs and adjustments couldn’t have come at a better time. There are just three games left in the regular season, and now WVU has won 10 straight games, including sweeping the No. 1 team in the Big 12 standings.

With the help of the long ball, WVU is in a position to host an NCAA Tournament Regional. The Mountaineers still need a couple more wins, but they are looking in good shape.

“It’s a sure hell of a nice time to do it, down the stretch here,” Sabins said. “But I think there’s some experience and getting comfort… I think some balancing of those stats.”