Sure, the Kansas University baseball team scored a combined 50 runs in its past four games, all victories.

But in the Jayhawks’ 13-7 victory Friday against Western Illinois at Hoglund Ballpark, they got back someone, and something, that had been missing and much-needed during that stretch — junior outfielder Matt Baty, the team’s “energy guy.”

Kansas University coach Ritch Price, left, bumps fists with junior Jared Schweitzer as he rounds the bases after his second-inning home run. The Jayhawks beat Western Illinois, 13-7, Friday at Hoglund Ballpark.

Friday, Baty was listed as the team’s designated hitter for the first time in his career, but he still led off the batting order. Baty made his presence, and his energy, felt, slapping a hit into left field on the first pitch he saw. Then, after stealing second, Baty made Western Illinois (4-15) pitcher Clint Buchen nervous by threatening to take off for third, jumping back-and-forth off of the bag.

Baty then scored on a Gus Milner hit, setting the pace for a super-charged offensive performance from the Jayhawks (18-8).

“I was excited to get it going, because I hate sitting on the bench,” said Baty, who sat the last four games because of a nagging ankle injury. “I pride myself on being the energy guy, and everybody says I’m the energy guy, so, you know, I like to lead by example on the basepaths.”

After Baty’s lone run in the first, the Jayhawks took advantage of steady winds in the second. Junior first baseman Jared Schweitzer hit a line-drive home run over the left-field wall to put KU up 2-1, then, after freshman second baseman Ryne Price singled, freshman third baseman Erik Morrison hit is first career home run to give the Jayhawks a 4-1 lead and a cushion for starting pitcher Mike Zagurski.

But Morrison was far from finished. He drove in Schweitzer and Price again in the fifth inning with a hit, then lifted a three-run shot in the sixth, giving him seven RBIs in the game.

6Sports video: KU baseball takes out Western Illinois

Morrison’s defense at the hot corner has earned praise from KU coach Ritch Price, but Morrison’s offense caught up Friday.

“I’ve been struggling here at bat, just trying to keep my confidence level up,” Morrison said. “I felt really good in (batting practice), and just hoped that I could carry it over in the game.

“I don’t feel like I’m over (the hump) just yet, but I’m starting to get over it. I think it was good to get dominated and struggle early so I know what it’s like.”

KU catcher Sean Richardson, right, tags out Western Illinois baserunner T.J. Kistner at home plate.

Zagurski (4-2) earned the victory for KU. He allowed four earned runs on nine hits in 52/3 innings. Kodiak Quick, Scott Sharpe and Kyle Klem allowed just one earned run in relief.

Last weekend, large KU leads against North Dakota State allowed the Jayhawks to play their reserves. But most of the KU starters finished the contest Friday, as Price plans to treat the rest of this series like a Big 12 Conference weekend series. After all, only three games, including today’s 1 p.m. tilt at Hoglund, stand between the Jayhawks and Friday’s conference opener against Nebraska.

“We’re trying to improve in every phase of the game, and I was really pleased with our baserunning today,” Price said. “Matt Baty runs on a delayed steal in the first inning on a lefthander with a lefthander up, gets into scoring position and scores.

“Those little things like that are gonna be the difference between us winning one-run games and losing one-run games in the Big 12.”