Jelkin, Power Surge Lead Cats Past Vols on Saturday

The Kentucky baseball team extended its winning streak to three games on Saturday, topping No. 24 Tennessee 12-2 at Kentucky Proud Park. And it was another all-around performance from the Cats.

UK’s recent power surge continued on Saturday, as the Cats belted four home runs in the victory. Kentucky has now hit eight home runs during the three-game winning streak.

The power surge started in the third inning when freshman Caeden Cloud homered to right field. Later in the same inning, Tyler Bell crushed a pitch down the left field line to extend the lead to 3-0.

In the fourth inning, Hudson Brown, playing for the first time in a few weeks, homered to right center field. Then in the seventh inning, Ethan Hindle homered for the second consecutive game.

UK head coach Nick Mingione credited his coaching staff with the sudden show of strength from his team.

“I give our coaches a lot of credit,” Mingione said. “They’ve just continued to work with out guys and try to find what’s right. And, to our guys’ credit, they just continue to work.”

While the long balls provided the offense, Jaxon Jelkin was outstanding on the mound. The right-hander went all eight innings, allowing just two runs and four hits, while walking no one and striking out a season-high 11 batters. Mingione had high praise for Jelkin after the game.

“Unbelievable. Just an awesome outing,” Mingione said. “To go that long, eight innings, not walk a guy, attack the strike zone, got in a little bit of trouble, worked his way out of it. Just kept pounding the strike zone and did exactly what our team needed. And to get a complete game against an unbelievable, really good Tennessee team. That’s exactly what we needed.”

Mingione liked how Jelkin was able to mix his pitches on Saturday.

“He has so many pitches,” Mingione said. “He throws the two-seamer, he can throw the four-seamer. He throws his cutter, he has a curveball. He has a changeup. It’s just a full on arsenal and he had command today of all of them.”

Mingione also liked how his team made plays behind Jelkin on Saturday.

“I thought our defense was awesome,” Mingione said. “You go all around the field and I thought our defense was great.”

It was an all-around performance by the Cats on Saturday as they won their third consecutive game, all against Southeastern Conference competition.