The Formula: Jelkin, Early Offensive Onslaught Pace No. 21 Kentucky

Jaxon Jelkin shook off a week of illness, provided 5.1 capable innings and benefitted from early offense as No. 21 Kentucky defeated Alabama 7-4 to claim its Southeastern Conference opener on Friday night at Kentucky Proud Park.

The Wildcats moved to 16-2 overall and 1-0 in league play.

Despite battling the fatigue of illness, Jelkin shook off a first inning home run by Alabama star Justin Lebron and fought his way through four scoreless frames before Alabama tagged him for a three-run home run that clipped the right field pole.

Meanwhile, Ethan Hindle hit a two-run home run in the first – he has homered in five of the past seven games – and Ryan Schwartz added his own two-run blast in the second. Later, Owen Jenkins added the first home run of his career as UK scored in each of the first five innings.

Connor Mattison and Jack Bennett pitched three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, to slam the door on the Crimson Tide.

NOTES

• Kentucky is 16-2 on the season, 1-0 in SEC play.
  • UK is 133-65 since the beginning of 2023.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his 10th season at the helm and now owns a 308-194 career record.
  • Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • UK is 120-45 in the month of March under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione is 115-124 in SEC games.
  • Mingione is 160-66 at Kentucky Proud Park.
    • He now is 53-44 at Kentucky Proud Park vs. the SEC.
  • Mingione now is 9-5 vs. Alabama.
  • Mingione is 24-11 vs. teams from Alabama.
• Kentucky scored in each of the first five innings.
• IF Tyler Bell missed his 13^th game of the season. IF Tyler Cerny returned after missing eight games with an injury.
• IF Ethan Hindle went 2-for-4 with a R, 2 RBI, 2B and HR,
  • He has homered in four of the past five games and five of seven.
• OF Ryan Schwartz went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer.
• C Owen Jenkins hit his first collegiate home run.
• RHP Jaxon Jelkin picked up his fourth victory of the season.
• RHP Jack Bennett earned his fourth save of the season.

ON DECK

UK faces Alabama on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. The game is on SECN+ and the contest can be heard on UK Sports Network.