Kentucky Opens Series with 7-4 Win over LSU – LSU

BATON ROUGE, La. – Kentucky right-hander Jaxon Jelkin labored 8.0 innings Friday night time to steer No. 19 Kentucky to a 7-4 win over LSU in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.

Kentucky improved to 21-4 general, 5-2 within the SEC, whereas LSU dropped to 17-10 general and 2-5 in convention play.

The groups summarize the collection at 2 pm CT Saturday in a sport that will likely be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and streamed on SEC Network +.

Jelkin (6-0) restricted the Tigers to 2 runs on 5 hits in 8.0 innings with one stroll and 7 strikeouts, firing 114 pitches.

LSU beginning pitcher Casan Evans (2-1) was charged with the loss, as he allowed 4 runs on 4 hits in 6.0 innings with six walks and three strikeouts.

“I don’t hat-tip the opposing pitcher very often, but Jelkin was great tonight, he just doesn’t give you anything,” mentioned LSU coach Jay Johnson. “Everything is in the zone, and you’re going to have to beat him in the zone. We got to him in the third inning, but then he found another gear for the rest of his outing.”

Kentucky scored a run on the prime of the primary inning and prolonged its result in 4-0 within the second as centerfield Jayce Tharnish delivered an RBI single, shortstop Tyler Bell drew a bases-loaded stroll and first baseman Hudson Brown lifted a sacrifice fly.

The Tigers narrowed the hole to 4-2 within the third when centerfielder Derek Curiel produced a two-run single.

The Wildcats, nonetheless, plated three runs within the seventh as second baseman Ethan Hindle belted an RBI double, designated hitter Tagger Tyson collected an RBI groundout and leftfielder Carson Hansen recorded a sacrifice fly.

LSU scored two runs within the backside of the ninth inning as designated hitter Seth Dardar lined an RBI double and second baseman Ethan Clauss logged a run-scoring groundout.

Dardar was 3-for-4 on the night time with three doubles and one RBI, tying the LSU single-game report for doubles set on quite a few prior events.

“I think tonight was an indication of the caliber of hitter that Seth is,” Johnson mentioned. “We were excited to get Seth into the lineup and see that performance out of him tonight.”