Observations: UK rallies in game one, controls game two against West Virginia at Prasco Park

MASON, Ohio – Kentucky defeated West Virginia 26-10 over 14 innings at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio, on Sunday afternoon. But despite the lopsided final score – which featured plenty of pitchers and substitutions for both programs throughout two seven-inning scrimmages – the Wildcats were down 8-1 after the fifth inning of Game One before outscoring the Mountaineers 25-2 from that point forward.

"We wanted to play (West Virginia) because they're good," Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione told Bat Cats Central. "That's why we picked them. We wanted to be tested. This team needs to be challenged. I mentioned to a couple of people that I was hoping we'd get punched today because I wanted to see how we'd respond. In the fall, it's sometimes hard to recreate that. I was super pleased because we got punched and it took us a minute, but we started punching back. And we just kept punching. I have a lot of respect for (West Virginia head coach) Steve Sabins, the job that he's done. He's a fellow Embry-Riddle Eagle."

Some of the stars offensively for the Wildcats included outfielders Jayce Tharnish and Ryan Schwartz, along with the starting infield combination of sophomore shortstop Tyler Bell and second baseman Luke Lawrence. On the mound, Nile Adcock delivered a team-high three innings out of the bullpen, while New Orleans transfer Ira Austin and sophomores Tommy Skelding and Tristan Hunter tossed scoreless outings. Hunter led the team with five strikeouts.

Jaxon Jelkin, who had not thrown against outside competition since the 2024 season following Tommy John surgery, started game one and touched 99 miles per hour in the first inning with a fastball. He gave up back-to-back doubles to open the scrimmage and allowed a homer in the second inning to WVU freshman infielder Matthew Robaugh, but he struck out the final three batters he faced and finished with four strikeouts over two innings.

"I was super happy for Jaxon Jelkin," Mingione said. "I think he said it had been over 16 months since he faced another team. Any time you have to overcome an injury and make it back, for you to make it back is a success in itself. He's super special, super talented and it was good to see him get back out there. That's another hurdle for him. Sure, he gave up some runs, but he threw a ball 99 miles per hour, a personal high. Just so excited to see him back."

COMPLETE BOX SCORE FOR KENTUCKY

These are the composite stats of the day. View the starting batting order for both games in the live updates story.

• LF/CF Jayce Tharnish – 3-6; 3 RBI, 2 BB, double, HR
• SS Tyler Bell – 3-9; 5 RBI, double
• CF Scott Campbell Jr. – 2-4; 2 RBI, BB
• 2B/SS Caeden Cloud – 2-3; 3 RBI, HR
• 1B Hudson Brown – 0-3; 1 BB
• RF/LF Ryan Foscolo – 0-2; 2 runs
• 3B/2B Ethan Hindle – 1-3; 1 BB, 2 runs
• RF/1B Ryan Schwartz – 2-5; 5 RBI, Grand Slam, 3 runs
• 1B Alex Duffey – 0-1
• DH/RF Carson Hansen – 2-4; RBI, double, 2 BB, 3 runs
• 3B Tyler Cerny – 1-5; double, BB
• CF Will Marcy – 0-0; RBI, BB, run
• DH Braxton Van Cleave – 0-2
• 2B Luke Lawrence – 2-4; 4 RBI, 2 BB, double, 2 runs
• C Tagger Tyson – 1-2; RBI, BB
• C Owen Jenkins – 1-3; RBI, BB

PITCHERS

• RHP Jaxon Jelkin – 2 IP, 3 H, 3 runs, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 Ks, HR
• LHP Jackson Soucie – 1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 Bb, 2 Ks
• RHP Nile Adcock – 3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 Ks
• RHP Ira Austin – 1 IP, 1 K
• LHP Leighton Harris – 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
• RHP Cameron Owens – 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 Ks
• RHP Tristan Hunter – 2 IP, 1 BB, 5 Ks
• RHP Tommy Skelding – 1 IP, 3 Ks

Game One Observations