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
- The story of Game One was a late-game comeback from Kentucky, aided in large part by some very bad West Virginia pitching. Trailing 8-1 in the sixth inning, Kentucky got two base runners from a hit by pitch, reached base on an infield single, drew a walk with bases loaded and then Bell drove in two runs with a flare to center field to make it 8-4. It was worse for West Virginia in the 7th inning as JJ Glasscock walked Brown and Schwartz and then allowed a hard double down the left field line to Hansen to make it 8-5. That prompted a pitching change, but WVU's David Perez walked three straight batters to make it 8-7. Tharnish hit a fielder's choice to tie the game 8-8, and Bell loaded the bases once again after getting hit by a pitch. The winning run scored when Campbell drew a walk. In all, WVU walked six batters and had an HBP in the final inning. Ira Austin retired the side in order to end it.
- Mingione praised Adcock, who helped stabilize the game out of the bullpen. Jelkin and South Carolina transfer Jackson Soucie combined to allow five runs over the first three innings. Adcock gave up two earned, but he struck out three and provided three innings out of the bullpen. "I thought Nile Adcock really settled the game and gave our offense a chance to come back. I thought he settled it, didn't let it get out of control, and Ira was also unbelievable. The attack, you could just see the experience there."
- In terms of how Kentucky lined up in Game One, there weren't too many surprises. I mentioned in the Bat Cats Insider piece on Saturday that catcher was a close battle, and Louisville transfer Tagger Tyson ultimately got the nod to start. Owen Jenkins started game two, while Alex Duffey played first after his one at-bat. This will continue to be a position to closely monitor leading into the Wildcats' next scrimmage against outside competition on Oct. 26.
- Tharnish roped a 107 mph homer to get the Wildcats on the board. He hit leadoff for the Wildcats – which, again, we're still months from the season opener – but I thought it was impressive for him to come in and earn a spot at the top of the order in the first scrimmage. "His bat-to-ball skills are incredible. Whether it's facing a lefthanded pitcher, righthanded pitcher, his ability to steal bases is elite level," Mingione said.
- Lawrence was hitting leadoff for the Wildcats at the end of last season. He hit 8th in Game One and once again had a strong day. Lawrence is just a solid ballplayer. "We were like 'could you imagine Luke Lawrence in the bottom of our lineup? He would turn that it all over.' Luke's presence is crucial for us. He had good at-bats."
- Hansen had some really good at-bats and is someone who could find a nice home in the DH role. He played right field in the second game and also took pregame infield at first base, so there's some versatility that's trying to be added for him.
- I always try to be cautious when discussing fall baseball, but I don't think it's going out on much of a limb to say this lineup is deeper in 2026 compared to 2025. Players ultimately have to perform, but there's a real combination of power, speed, and those who have a high contact percentage. I think there's a real upgrade defensively as well, except for maybe at catcher. That remains to be seen, though Mingione did praise the catchers. "I loved our catchers behind the plate. I thought they received the ball great. They back-picked and made good, strong throws to second base. I thought they did extremely well for two guys who had never been in our program and were catching new arms for the first time, super pleased with them."
Game Two Observations
- Ryan Schwartz, who moved over to first base for Game Two, went opposite field for a grand slam in the second inning. He looks like one of the best hitters on this roster, and his versatility on defense only adds to the team. Schwartz is a draft-eligible sophomore.
- Freshman infielder Caeden Cloud was a highly-ranked recruit nationally according to Prep Baseball Report, and he made some noise this summer as one of the best hitters in the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League. Cloud demolished a 413-foot homer with a 105 mph exit velocity. He drove in another run on a single later in the scrimmage. The good news is he won't need to be rushed into the lineup with Kentucky's depth, but this feels like someone to keep an eye on throughout the rest of fall and early spring. If things break a certain way, perhaps Cloud gets a chance at some at-bats.
- Sophomore lefthander Leighton Harris started Game Two. He wasn't quite as dialed in with his command as he walked three batters in 2.2 innings, but he struck out a batter and only allowed two hits and an earned run before being replaced by Cameron Owens. "I thought Leighton Harris showed tremendous poise. Just his presence was so much better. Cam Owens, to get out there for the first time, was awesome to see. Got him a chance to come in in the middle of the inning and then for him to get out of the next inning was awesome to see."
- A pair of sophomores also stood out on the mound. Tristan Hunter and Tommy Skelding combined to throw three scoreless innings without giving up a hit. Hunter was dominant with five strikeouts to just one walk, and Skelding fanned the side in order to close out the game. "They looked the part. They threw strikes, multiple pitches, it was a very high level of pitching. Overall, those were some guys who threw the ball exceptionally well," Mingione said.
- Junior Ethan Hindle got the start at third base in Game Two. He also moved over and played some second base later on in the scrimmage. Hindle had a base hit, drew a walk and scored two runs.
