With a late lead and a chance to capture an all-important 13th Southeastern Conference victory, Kentucky coach Nick Mingione turned to the ace of his pitching staff to get six outs.
Redshirt junior Jaxon Jelkin, Kentucky's probable starter for Saturday entering the weekend, had thrown back-to-back complete games and was coming off 128 pitches against Florida on Saturday night. But he woke up on Thursday and let pitching coach Dan Roszel know that he was ready if needed.
"I knew there was potential that I'd be able to come in and close this weekend, I just didn't know if it'd be tonight," Jelkin said. "To be honest, yesterday I didn't feel as good I did today, so I kind of just went to bed and woke up and knew I felt good and could pitch."
Kentucky took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run homer by Ethan Hindle and tacked on two more runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. But sensing where the game was going around the fifth inning, Mingione told Jelkin that he would soon be entering the game.
In the sixth inning, Jelkin still had his turf shoes on. But he began to warm up after Arkansas scored a run in the seventh off freshman Jack Sams, just the second earned run he'd allowed all season.
"I give Coach Roszel a lot of credit," Mingione said. "He went down there to look him in the eye as he was warming up. It's one thing for a player to say something, but you could throw and maybe you're not where you want to be. But sure enough, he said he was great. Jelkin convinced (Roszel) I guess. Next thing you know, he's in the game and he's finishing it."
Jelkin worked a three-up, three-down eighth inning but allowed a solo homer to Arkansas outfielder Zack Stewart to trim the lead to 4-3 to begin the ninth inning. Jelkin responded by striking out TJ Pompey and getting a groundout from Reese Robinett. Damian Ruiz, who got the first hit for the Razorbacks in the fifth inning, struck out to end the game.
After the game, Jelkin said he had never closed in his life. He spent time as a reliever at Nebraska before working into a starting role, but since then, he's been a starter. He said the pregame routines were the same tonight as if he were starting.
"I've got routines that I do every day when I start and then go down there to get my body ready," Jelkin said. "I'm not really a big guy on superstitions or anything. I just listen to my body. Once you toe the rubber, you just have to be ready to go."
Sophomore right-hander Nate Harris made his second start in five days. After recording just one out against Florida on Sunday, Harris delivered three innings of scoreless ball against the Razorbacks. The Yorkville, Illinois, native struck out three batters and didn't allow a hit in his outing. But he was pulled after 44 pitches as he continues to build back up after missing a month of action prior to the Florida start.
The Wildcats got an unexpected relief performance from redshirt sophomore Tommy Skelding. Skelding, who had only appeared in two SEC games this season and hadn't pitched since April 21 against Louisville, entered for Harris in the fourth. Skelding went 2.1 innings and walked three, but he worked out of danger each time.
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After two batters reached in the sixth inning with one out, head coach Nick Mingione turned to Sams to try to get out of the frame. Sams struck out Maika Niu and Zack Stewart to get out of the jam.
Sams remained in the game in the seventh. Robinett drew a one-out walk and came around to score on a two-out opposite-field single by likely first-round draft pick Ryder Helfrick. Sams got Kozeal to roll into a groundout to get out of the frame.
After that, Jelkin came in and sealed the deal to get Kentucky to 13-15 in the SEC with an RPI currently at No. 28.
Mingione was asked after the game if he was convinced that 13 wins would be enough to secure a fourth straight NCAA Tournament bid.
"Track record and history says so," Mingione said. "Especially with the RPI where it is. That's what history says. You guys can do all the math and all the studies. But we still got three more guaranteed games. They're going to be super important, but make no mistake about it, we went for a win today."
