Eight is Great: Jaxon Jelkin Delivers 8.0 Dominant Innings

Baton Rouge, La. – LSU’s Alex Box Stadium has been nicknamed “The Power House” but it was Kentucky’s Jaxon Jelkin that provided the electricity as No. 18 Kentucky took control early and rode Jelkin’s lively right arm to a 7-4 victory on Friday night.

Kentucky improved to 21-4 overall and 5-2 in the Southeastern Conference.

Jelkin set career highs in innings pitched and pitches thrown in his 8.0 innings of work. He allowed two runs on five hits and struck out seven. After LSU touched him for a pair of runs in the third inning, he induced an inning-ending double play to start a stretch of 12 straight retired Tigers and 17 of 18 overall through the eighth inning. He capped his night with a strikeout, letting out a guttural yell as he left the mound.

On the flip side, UK drew eight walks and put up four runs through two innings while LSU starter Casan Evans struggled with his control. The Cats tacked on three more runs in the seventh inning to provide enough cushion to keep the anxiety of a close game at bay.

Ethan Hindle logged a career-high three hits, including an RBI double, and Jayce Tharnish scored a pair of runs and added another highlight reel catch.

NOTES

• Kentucky is 21-4 on the season, 5-2 in SEC play.
  • UK is 139-66 since the beginning of 2023.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his 10th season at the helm and now owns a 314-196 career record.
  • Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • Mingione is 119-126 in SEC games.
    • Mingione is 49-72 in road SEC games.
  • UK is 125-47 in the month of March under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione now is 5-11 vs. LSU.
  • Mingione is 6-11 vs. teams from the state of Louisiana.
• This is UK’s first trip to Baton Rouge since the 2023 Super Regional.
• The Cats scored three runs in the second inning and three in the seventh.
  • They now have scored at least three runs in an inning 26 times this season.
• The Cats drew seven walks and two HBP in the game.
  • They’ve drawn 18 walks the past two games.
• IF Ethan Hindle went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI double.
  • The three hits are a career high.
• IF Luke Lawrence had a hit, drew a walk, was hit by a pitch and scored a run.
  • He has reached safely in 30 consecutive games.
• OF Jayce Tharnish scored twice and had an RBI single.
• RHP Jaxon Jelkin earned his sixth win of the season.
  • He pitched 8.0 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.
  • He set career highs in innings (8.0) and pitches (114).
  • He retired 12 straight and 17 of 18 from the third through the eighth inning.
  • This is the third time this season he’s pitched at least seven innings with two or fewer runs allowed.

ON DECK

UK faces LSU on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET. The game is on SECN+ and the contest can be heard on UK Sports Network.