Jelkin Shines as Cats Roll Past UNC Greensboro in Season Opener
Jaxon Jelkin's debut with the Kentucky Wildcats was nothing short of spectacular. The junior pitcher, who had a challenging season last year after undergoing Tommy John Surgery, dominated the mound in the team's season opener against UNC Greensboro. In just four innings, he allowed only two hits and struck out an impressive 10 batters, contributing to the Cats' 13-2 victory.
Jelkin, a hard-throwing right-hander, was on a pitch count for his debut. He finished with 58 pitches, 40 of which were strikes. Out of the 14 batters he faced, 12 were struck out on the first pitch. It was a remarkable performance, especially considering his recent surgery.
The UNC Greensboro team had a tough time against Jelkin's replacement as well. Junior right-hander Connor Mattison, a transfer from Grand Canyon, struck out seven of the 14 batters he faced and allowed only one earned run over 3.2 innings. The UK staff didn't walk a single batter, showcasing their control and precision.
The Cats broke a program record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game with a total of 20, thanks to Tristan Hunter's three punchouts in two innings. No matter who was on the mound for Kentucky, the team had ample run support, making it a stress-free game.
The Cats had a productive day at the plate, with 14 hits, including five extra-base hits. Senior second baseman Luke Lawrence hit a grand slam as part of UK's eight-run third inning, where 13 batsmen came to the plate. Jayce Tharnish, Owen Jenkins, and Ethan Hindle each tripled, while Hudson Brown contributed a double.
Tharnish, a transfer outfielder from St. Bonaventure, and Jenkins, a freshman catcher from Lexington Catholic, each led UK with three hits. Tharnish also stole three bases and scored a pair of runs. Noah Chapman (0-1) started and took the loss for UNC Greensboro, allowing eight runs on six hits and three hit batsmen over just two-plus innings.
The only concern of the game was a potential injury to preseason All-American shortstop Tyler Bell, who had to leave the game in the seventh inning after driving for a ball. He remained down on the field for a few minutes before walking off to get further examination.
Game Ball:
Jaxon Jelkin, Kentucky - Making his debut for the Wildcats and his first start since Tommy John Surgery, the transfer from Houston was sensational. Working on a 65-pitch count, the junior right-hander struck out the first seven batters he faced and finished with 10 punchouts in four shutout innings on the mound.
Up Next:
Kentucky and UNC Greensboro are scheduled to wrap up the series with a Saturday doubleheader due to inclement weather expected in the region for Sunday. Game 2 will begin at 1 p.m. ET with Game 3 starting approximately 45 minutes after the first game ends. Both will be nine-inning games with a run rule of 10 in place.
Jelkin's performance on opening day was a statement, and his lean frame with easy twitch and the ball jumping out of his hand was on full display. The first six pitches of the game resulted in 2 strikeouts and 6 strikeouts through the first 2.0 innings. His fastballs ranged from 94-96 mph, and his curveball and slider were in the 90-91 and 80-82 mph range, respectively.
