Kansas University’s baseball team is used to playing in front of a raucous crowd … just not at home.

In front of a throng of 1,342 at Hoglund Ballpark — the seventh-biggest crowd in KU baseball history — the No. 21 Jayhawks took the first of three games against Eastern Michigan, 3-1, Friday afternoon.

“We had an outstanding crowd. This is what it’s usually like when we’re on the road,” KU senior pitcher Kevin Wheeler said. “We really haven’t experienced that here before. I think the crowd was in every phase of the game.”

Wheeler’s career-high 12 strikeouts in 82¼3 innings produced the majority of the applause. Coming into the game, Wheeler had just eight strikeouts all year.

“If you get in a pitching duel at this level, you have to match them pitch for pitch, and Kevin Wheeler was absolutely special today,” first-year Kansas coach Ritch Price said.

Eastern Michigan pitcher Anthony Tomey matched Wheeler’s effectiveness on the mound early, allowing just one KU hit the first five innings.

“It was a pretty close game the whole way,” Wheeler said. “If you’re in a pitching duel you know you’re doing something right.”

The first Kansas run came in the sixth when center fielder Lance Hayes walked and later scored on a Tomey wild pitch.

KU designated hitter Jason Appuhn added insurance in the eighth with a two-run home run to left-center field, his first of the year.

Appuhn said fan support was a factor — especially after the Jayhawks swept then-No. 6 Louisiana State last weekend in front of thousands of frenzied fans in Baton Rouge, La.

Kansas shortstop Brandon Shepard throws out an Eastern Michigan baserunner. Shepard had three assists and two putouts in the Jayhawks' 3-1 victory Friday at Hoglund Ballpark.

“I’ve heard a lot of stuff about fans wanting to come out and support the team after our series against LSU. I was hoping there would be, but I wasn’t expecting that,” Appuhn said.

“It was real nice to see people come out and see what kind of players we are and hopefully they’ll continue to come out. It helps out a lot. Even when we we’re down they’ll get in the game and start cheering and raise our level of confidence.”

Price echoed his players’ appreciation of the crowd.

“That was absolutely awesome,” Price said. “Hopefully we can continue to win and continue building on that.”

Kansas (10-3) and Eastern Michigan (2-5) meet again today in a doubleheader at 11 a.m. at Hoglund.

Kansas 3, Eastern Michigan 1

Eastern Michigan 000 000 001 — 1 5 1

Kansas 000 001 02x — 3 2 1

W–Kevin Wheeler (2-0). L–Anthony Tomey (0-2). S–Brandon Johnson (1).

2B–Eastern Michigan: Derrick Peterson. HR–Kansas: Jason Appuhn (1).

KU highlights: Wheeler 12 strikeouts; Appuhn 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs.