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

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
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