Who knew winning an SEC series could look so effortless for this Kentucky team? For the first time since the opening weekend of league play, the Wildcats claimed a series with a 12-2 eight-inning mercy rule win over Tennessee. Kentucky will go for the sweep at 1 p.m. in the finale on Sunday.
Junior right-hander Jaxon Jelkin spun a gem, striking out a season-high 11 batters over eight innings. He held the Vols to four hits and two earned runs as he gave Kentucky its second straight quality start of the series, following up Ben Cleaver's excellent outing on Friday night. Jelkin was credited with a complete game and lowered his season ERA to 3.77.
Kentucky's bats stayed hot as well. After posting nine runs and 13 hits in the opener on Friday night, the offense once again hit over .300 as a team and used a three-run third inning to grab an early lead that it never relinquished. Kentucky added another run in the fourth before scoring three in the sixth, four in the seventh and one run in the eighth inning to clinch the run-rule victory.
Freshman third baseman Caeden Cloud had the best game of his young career, blasting a solo homer to lead off the third inning and then adding two more RBIs on a bases-loaded double in the seventh. Cloud also had an RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases juiced. He finished 2-2 with four runs driven in and reached base each time he went to the plate.
Additionally, sophomore shortstop Tyler Bell homered and doubled in the win, and designated-hitter Hudson Brown homered in his second at-bat of the game. Brown was back in the lineup for the first time since April 5 against Missouri as he dealt with an illness.
Seven Wildcats drove in at least one run in the 10-run victory. Luke Lawrence, Scott Campbell and Braxton Van Cleave collected two hits as well. The Wildcats hit .364 as a team and hit an even .300 with runners in scoring position.
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In a change from most of the season to date, the long ball has been a factor in both Kentucky wins in this series. Ethan Hindle homered for the second consecutive day. His seventh-inning homer made it 8-2, giving Kentucky four homers for the game. The Wildcats have six homers through two games against the Vols.
Bell led off the eighth inning with a double and came around to score on a single by Lawrence to give Kentucky its first run-rule win in SEC play.
The win moved Kentucky to 11-12 in the SEC and 29-15 overall. As of publication, Kentucky is back inside the top-30 of the RPI and is currently No. 28. A sweep over Tennessee would have the Wildcats primed to make a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Still, taking the series was the main priority. That has been accomplished.
While the Alabama sweep to begin SEC play has continued to age well – the Crimson Tide still resides in the top five in the RPI – this has arguably already been the best series of the season for the Cats. Kentucky is outscoring the Vols 21-4 through two games and has played well in all areas over the past 17 innings.
It will look to finish the series strong at Kentucky Proud Park on Sunday. Junior right-hander Connor Mattison (2-1, 5.81 ERA) will square off against Tennessee's Landon Mack (3-4, 5.01 ERA).
Kentucky's bullpen is in excellent shape following Jelkin's complete game. Just four pitchers have been used so far in the series.
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