Jaxon Jelkin’s Gem, Tyler Cerny’s Bat Carry Kentucky

Jaxon Jelkin put on a pitching clinic and Tyler Cerny delivered a pair of big blows to lead No. 22 Kentucky to a tidy 3-1 victory over St. John’s in the series opener on Friday at Kentucky Proud Park.

It was UK coach Nick Mingione’s 300^th career victory.

Jelkin pounded the strike zone with his varied arsenal and allowed only one runner past first base until the eighth inning before he gave way to Jack Bennett for the final five outs. The right-hander finished allowing only an unearned run on just two hits in a career-high 7.1 innings, striking out eight along the way.

It was more than enough to give his offense some wiggle room and Cerny took advantage. The senior infielder’s solo shot to dead center on the first pitch of the second inning put the Cats ahead for good. He added a laser double off the left field wall to score Jayce Tharnish in the fourth inning.

The only two nervous moments of the game saw the Cats emerge unscathed. After St. John’s put runners on the corners with a walk and single, Jelkin induced an inning-ending double play. In the eighth, Bennett took advantage of a pitch clock violation for a strikeout with a runner on third and Ryan Schwartz chased down a low liner in right field to end a rally.

NOTES

• Kentucky is 7-2 on the season.
  • UK is 124-65 since the beginning of 2023.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his 10th season at the helm and now owns a 300-194 career record.
  • Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • UK is 60-20 in the month of February under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione is 176-54 in non-conference games.
    • He is 155-25 vs. non-Power Four opponents.
  • Mingione now is 1-0 vs. St. John’s.
  • Mingione is 7-0 vs. teams from New York.
• Kentucky has won the opening game of all three series this season.
• IF Tyler Cerny went 2-for-4 with two RBI, a solo home run and a double.
  • His home run in the second inning gave the Cats a lead they’d never relinquish.
  • He also doubled off the wall to drive in another run.
• OF Jayce Tharnish went 2-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a steal.
  • He now is 8-for-8 on stolen bases.
• IF Luke Lawrence had his 200th career hit.
• RHP Jaxon Jelkin moved to 3-0 on the season.
  • He allowed only an unearned run in 7.1 innings.
  • He held St. John’s to two hits, walked one and struck out eight.
  • He allowed only two runners past first base and just one through seven innings.
  • The 7.1 IP are a career high, surpassing his previous high of 6.1 IP while at Houston.
  • He was struck out 25 and walked only three in 16.1 innings this season.
  • He lowered his ERA to 0.55.
• RHP Jack Bennett picked up his second save of the season.