Matt Tribble was sick of dramatics.

Kansas University’s outfielder, who had extended his hitting streak to 19 games with late-inning hits Thursday and Friday, set a KU record Saturday early — and with authority.

Tribble crushed a 400-foot home run over the Hoglund Ballpark scoreboard in the first inning, propelling the No. 17 Jayhawks to a 16-7 blowout victory over Western Michigan.

Tribble’s bomb gave him hits in 20 straight games — every KU contest this season — passing Justin Headley’s mark of 19, set in 1996.

Afterward, Tribble tipped his cap as 612 fans applauded his record.

“I’ve been waiting the last two or three games to get a hit until the last at-bat,” Tribble said. “It’s been on my mind.”

Tribble, who is hitting .427 this season, finished 1-for-3 before being taken out after the fifth inning with KU up 13-4.

Tribble’s blast was just one of 21 KU hits in the frigid air. Kansas (16-4) scored runs in each of the first five innings, added two more on a Casey Spanish home run in the seventh and another run in the eighth.

Kansas starter Josh Duran delivers against Western Michigan. Duran allowed four runs as the Jayhawks won their fifth in a row, 16-7, Saturday at Hoglund Ballpark.

An impressive display, considering the 30-degree temperature meant contact stung the hands of aluminum bat-wielding hitters.

“I thought we did a tremendous job,” coach Ritch Price said. “Swinging the bats good in this kind of weather today is really a great tribute to our club offensively.”

Spanish continued his torrid pace at the plate Saturday, going 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and a double. He’s 9-for-12 in his last three games, and has raised his season average to .452.

“Casey Spanish has been hitting lights out,” Tribble said. “The past week or so, he’s been hitting the ball hard every single time.”

Kansas University's Ritchie Price lays down a successful bunt against Western Michigan. The Jayhawks won their fifth straight game, 16-7, Saturday at Hoglund Ballpark.

Western Michigan (0-8) was dealt a significant blow when starting pitcher J.R. Mathes left the game after hearing a pop in his knee when delivering a pitch in the second inning. Three relievers logged innings for the Broncos, but none could shut down the surging Jayhawks.

Josh Duran (2-1) earned the victory for KU, pitching six innings and giving up four runs on three hits.

The victory was the Jayhawks’ fifth in a row, and 11th in their last 12 games. They’ll go for the four-game sweep of Western Michigan at 1 p.m. today at Hoglund Ballpark.

Kenny Falconer (0-0), a rare KU right-hander, will start.

Kansas 16, Western Michigan 7

W. Michigan 000 310 210 — 7 8 1

Kansas 411 160 21X — 16 21 1

W — Josh Duran (2-1). L — J.R. Mathes (0-2)

HR: Matt Tribble (2), Casey Spanish (3).

KU highlights: Casey Spanish 3-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI; Ryan Baty 3-for-6, 2 2B, 3 RBI; Matt Tribble 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, 20-game hitting streak (KU record).