No. 21 Kentucky baseball (12-2) came from behind to take down The Citadel Bulldogs (5-6) in the series opener, winning 10-5.

Early on, it was quite frustrating for the Wildcats, as even with all the very disciplined and patient at-bats and drawing walks, they could never seem to get runs to cross the plate.

The Citadel’s pitching was lights out against the Wildcats, as it has been against its previous opponents this season.

From leaving 11 runners on base all night, including ending innings twice with the bases loaded and two double-play groundouts, the Wildcats still found a way to come out without a scratch.

Their way came from the help of a very strong seventh-inning stretch.

But it was brewed by pristine relief pitching from Connor Mattison and the buildup of the offense scoring in every inning and the defense making highlight-reel plays, chipping away at the 5-1 deficit.

“There wasn’t any panic in the dugout, we were down 5-1 for the majority of that game and you know guys are still having that same energy and just getting after it,” Tyler Bell said about the dugout ahead of the comeback.

In the fourth inning, it came with the all-reliable leadoff hitter to really get the sparks flying as Luke Lawrence brought a runner home on an RBI single.

Then, in the fifth, Caeden Cloud scored from third on a wild pitch, making it a 5-3 game and settling the slow buildup that something special was brewing.

Jelkin finished his final two innings, allowing no more damage to The Citadel, and passed the ball to Mattison, where he shone in relief.

Mattison eventually got the win, but his performance single-handedly made Kentucky not have to worry about the offense and the run support they planned to provide.

“He (Connor) did an awesome job, an awesome job just settling the game and allowing us to chip back,” head coach Nick Mingione said.

His 2 1/3 innings of work led into the seventh-inning stretch, where the game was busted open by the usuals and a homecoming representation from Bell.

The offense batted for the cycle in the seventh, which started with a Scott Campbell Jr. game-tying triple, leading into Jayce Tarnish’s two-run RBI single for his third hit of the night.

Tarnish’s three-hit night made him the team leader in hits with 21 so far this season.

His single into Ethan Hindle’s double brought Bell to the plate for what the entire crowd came to see from the USA All-American sophomore.

“I’m just happy to get him on the field so he can quit bugging me,” Mingione jokingly said about Bell’s will to play.

Bell’s eagerness to swing in a live game was already shown early on, as well, after he sent an opposite-field double in the third inning.

However, in the seventh, he sent a booming line-drive shot over the left-field wall, igniting the crowd and stamping his presence to all of Kentucky and the NCAA that he is back.

Bell’s work on and off the field during his absence clearly hasn’t skipped a beat, as he’s taking everything he worked on in rehab and portraying it on the field in a sound manner.

“He’s such a difference maker in so many ways,” Mingione said about Bell, whether he’s interacting or producing on or off the field.

BBN can settle in comfort as a healthy Kentucky team went on display Friday night and showed why they are a force to be reckoned with the rest of the weekend and into SEC play.

The Bat Cats will continue their series with The Citadel tomorrow, Saturday, March 7, at 7 p.m. as they look to win the series.