Jaxon Jelkin delivered when Kentucky (26-10, 8-8 SEC) needed it most, but it was Braxton Van Cleave who finished the job in a 5-2 win over Vanderbilt (22-17, 7-9 SEC).
Van Cleave provided the decisive moment in the bottom of the ninth inning, hitting a grand slam for his first collegiate home run to give the Wildcats the win.
Jelkin’s strong outing on the mound kept the Wildcats within reach before the late offensive surge.
The right-hander worked eight innings, the most he’s done all season, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out nine and walking one. He threw 105 pitches and faced early pressure before settling into a rhythm that carried Kentucky deep into the game.
“No. 1 [Jelkin], he’s a real competitor and number two, he lets you coach him,” Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione said. “He had a great week and was able to put a great bullpen in. And boy do we need him tonight. Like every time we need a big outing, big pickup there’s Jaxon Jelkin, and yeah he was magnificent tonight.”
Vanderbilt opened the night with immediate traffic in the first inning, with Mike Mancini and Brodie Johnston recording back-to-back singles. Jelkin was able to escape the inning without allowing a run, getting a pop-up and two strikeouts.
The Commodores broke through in the second and third innings, starting with Braden Holcomb getting a double and eventually scoring after advancing on a bunt and a fielder’s choice.
Johnston kept the energy going for Vanderbilt, recording his second hit of the day with a home run to left field and extending the lead to 2-0.
Despite the rough start, Jelkin quickly found his rhythm on the mound. He consistently worked ahead in counts and limited Vanderbilt to scattered base hits. The Commodores couldn’t find a break, with the defense executing strongly behind Jelkin.
Deeper into the game, Jelkin’s command continued to sharpen. He took full control throughout his final five innings, allowing only one hit and no runs, keeping the game close for the Wildcats.
Jelkin’s ability to go deep into the game proved critical, preserving the bullpen and allowing Kentucky to stay positioned for a late push. Each inning he completed kept pressure on Vanderbilt and gave the offense time to break through.
“I mean every Friday night, he [Jelkin] goes out there and we have a really good chance every Friday knowing he’s the man,” Braxton Van Cleave said. “He pounds the strike zone, knows where he can put pitches and when to put them there, I mean he’s phenomenal.
Kentucky started slow on offense before getting its first run off a Will Marcy double and Tyler Bell with an RBI single. An impressive ninth inning including a single from Luke Lawrence, Jayce Tharnish and Ethan Hindle before Van Cleave put the nail in the coffin.
Nile Adcock came in during the ninth inning to close things out, and did just that. He started with a strikeout before allowing a hit to Braden Holcomb. Adcock then induced a flyout and recorded a throw to first to end the game. With the effort, Adcock earned his fourth win of the season.
While the offense finished the job, and Adcock secured the win, Jelkin’s outing set the foundation. With an ERA of 3.22, Jelkin continues to dominate on the mound and show why he is one of the best starting pitchers in the SEC.