Sophomore catcher Alex DeLeon hit two of Kansas University’s three home runs as the Jayhawks pounded Saint Mary, 11-5, in a nonconference baseball game Tuesday at Hogund Ballpark.
The Jayhawks have won five of their last six and have broken .500 for the first time in more than a month at 19-18 overall. The Spires fell to 17-29.
After spotting Saint Mary two runs in the top of the first, KU hit home runs in three of the next four innings to take control. In the second, DeLeon hit a two-run shot to center field as Kansas took a 3-2 lead, and senior Casey Lytle followed with a two-run shot in the next inning.
KU went up 9-2 in the fifth on the strength of DeLeon’s second homer of the day and team-high fifth of the season. The sophomore became the first Jayhawk to record a multi-homer game since Robby Price hit two home runs against Missouri on May 9 of last season. DeLeon also recorded a career-high five RBIs.
After a shaky start, senior lefty Wally Marciel settled down and retired the next eight men he faced to pick up his fifth victory of the season, tying senior T.J. Walz for the team lead.
Senior Nolan Mansfield, freshman Tyler Smith, junior Jordan Jakubov and senior Matt Kohorst all made mound appearances for the Jayhawks.
Four different Jayhawks contributed multi-hit games as KU banged out 11 hits off eight Saint Mary pitchers.
KU will host No. 4 Texas in a three-game Big 12 series beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday at Hoglund Ballpark.