That chimp on Travis Metcalf’s back was gradually becoming gorilla-like. Now the monkey is long gone.

Metcalf slugged a two-run homer in Kansas University’s 11-8 baseball loss to Southwest Missouri State on Tuesday night at Hoglund Ballpark and became the school’s career home run leader.

Whew, that’s a relief.

“You bet,” the Jayhawks’ junior third baseman said. “You say you don’t think about it, but it seems like this one took forever.”

Metcalf had tied the career homer mark two weeks ago.

Matt Gundelfinger slugged 27 homers during a three-year KU career from 1978 to 1980. Metcalf also has played three years in a KU uniform to reach 27, but there’s a difference.

Metcalf didn’t hit a home run as a freshman, even though he played in 27 games and had 98 at-bats. The Wamego product hit 11 as a sophomore and has 17 this season.

“I basically had a different swing when I was a freshman,” he said. “They changed me into a line-drive hitter when I came here, but coach (Ritch) Price came in and let me go back to what I was, more of a free swinger.”

Price believes he has a genuine gem manning the hot corner.

“He’s fun to watch,” Price said. “In my 26 years of coaching, he’s the best third baseman I’ve seen, and that’s on both sides of the ball.”

Metcalf, Price added, “has a chance to be a major-league third baseman.”

Chances are Metcalf won’t be back for his senior season. He’s eligible for baseball’s June free agent draft, and reportedly will go in the top-10 rounds. Last year, Minnesota tapped him in the 38th round, and he said no thanks.

“I don’t know if I’ll be back next season or not,” Metcalf said. “It all depends on where I’m drafted.”

Meanwhile, with at least 10 games remaining, Metcalf can aim for sole possession of the single-season school home run record. He’s tied with Russ Blaylock, also a third baseman, who hit 17 balls out of the park during the 1981 season.

6Sports video: Career home run record goes to Metcalf Hear Ritch: KU-SMS postgame comments

“That would be nice,” Metcalf said, “but 17 was my goal. If 18 happens, good. If not, I won’t worry about it.”

In the meantime, Price wishes he didn’t have to worry about his beleaguered pitching staff. Kansas led 8-4 going into the ninth inning, but the Bears exploded for seven runs against four KU relievers.

Five hits, two walks and second baseman Jared Schweitzer’s boot of a potential doubleplay grounder — the Jayhawks’ only error of the night — proved fatal.

Twelve times this season Kansas has led after eight innings before faltering in the ninth.

“That might have been the worst inning we’ve had all season,” Price said. “We played really well up until the ninth … That’s a devastating loss, no doubt about that. It’s never been as bad as that.”

Confidence is clearly an issue now that the Jayhawks have dropped 16 of their last 20 outings and have leveled off with a 26-26 record.

“The guys are trying so hard,” Price said, “and the harder they try the worse it gets.”

On paper, it may get worse before it gets better with the next three games scheduled against No. 2-ranked Texas this weekend in Austin, Texas.