After playing its first 13 games of the season on the road or at neutral sites, Kansas University’s baseball team was eager to return to Hoglund Ballpark for its home opener Friday against Utah.

The Jayhawks’ excitement showed, as they recorded 15 hits in their 7-5 win over the Utes.

“I can’t tell you how pumped up our team was,” Kansas coach Ritch Price said. “We’ve been on the road for four weeks, and to come home and have a really nice day for the home opener, the energy in our dugout was absolutely off the chart.”

Each Jayhawk had at least one hit, and senior Blair Beck led the way with three. Beck also smashed his fifth home run of the season when he took Utah reliever Trenton Stoltz deep in the bottom of the fifth.

“I feel pretty comfortable, but give all the credit to the guys in front of me,” Beck said. “They’re having good at-bats, and they’re seeing pitches, and I’m able to get fastballs because of them.”

Beck’s two-run shot gave the Jayhawks a 7-2 advantage, but the Utes would not go away. Utah scored single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth and had the tying run at second base with two outs in the ninth. Utah freshman Wade Gulden hit a ball down the third-base line, but it was ruled a foul ball. Kansas closer Stephen Villines struck out Gulden out on the next pitch to end the game.

Friday marked the fourth consecutive outing Villines has tossed at least two innings, and Price said he is not afraid to continue to throw his closer for more than one frame.

“We’re going to use him with the lead,” Price said. “We’re going to use him a lot like we used Donny Czyz when he was the national closer of the year for us in 2006. If we’ve got the lead late in the seventh, eighth or ninth inning, we’re going to make you beat our best guy.”

Villines’ fourth save of the season preserved KU starter Ben Krauth’s second win and his first in Hoglund Ballpark. The junior-college transfer from Diablo Valley Community College limited the Utes to four runs on six hits while striking out five and walking three over 62/3 innings.

“It was a great atmosphere,” Krauth said. “It was really fun to pitch in. A lot confidence out there in the guys.”

Krauth got the start in place of KU ace Drew Morovick, who will be sidelined this weekend because of elbow soreness. Price said the 2014 Big 12 leader in wins should not miss extended time. Sam Gilbert came on in relief of Krauth in the seventh and allowed one run on back-to-back singles from Hunter Simmons and Dallas Carroll, but struck out AJ Young to limit the damage.

The Kansas offense did most of its damage in the fourth inning. The Jayhawks rattled off five consecutive hits to begin the inning and knock out Utah starter Bret Helton. The three-run fourth featured a leadoff single from Beck, ground-rule double from Steve Goldstein, two-RBI double from Matt McLaughlin and consecutive singles from Justin Protacio and Joven Afenir.

Center fielder Afenir made a diving catch to rob Kody Davis of a hit in the seventh inning and earned the No. 6 spot on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays.

Kansas (6-8) will be back in action at 2 p.m. today for game two of the series against the 2-11 Utes.

Utah 020 001 110 — 5 12 2

Kansas 101 320 00x — 7 15 2

W — Ben Kraugh (2-2). L — Bret Helton (1-1). S — Stephen Villines (4).

2B — Dakota Smith, Steve Goldstein, Matt McLaughin, KU. HR — Blair Beck, KU.

KU highlights — Beck 3-for-4, 2 RBIs; Colby Wright 2-for-3; Goldstein 2-for-4; Justin Protacio 2-for-5; Joven Afenir 2-for-5; McLaughlin 2 RBIs.