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Kentucky evens series vs. UF behind Jaxon Jelkin's complete game

On3 imageby: Zach Abolverdi05/10/26ZachAbolverdi

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Kentucky evened the series against the No. 13 Florida Gators with a 4-2 win behind starting pitcher Jaxon Jelkin. The junior RHP went the distance on Saturday night and struck out 12 UF batters with 128 pitches thrown to earn his eighth win of the season (8-2).

Florida had just seven hits, two apiece by Brendan Lawson and Hayden Yost. The rest of the team was 0-for-21 heading into the last inning. The Gators tried to rally in the ninth, juicing the bases twice and scoring one run on three hits, but they left them loaded with Yost’s pop up.

UF right-handed pitcher Liam Peterson (1-5) threw a career-high 7.2 innings, striking out seven Wildcats and allowing eight hits, four runs and one walk. Saturday’s game was delayed over four hours until 8:15 p.m. The rubber match on Sunday has been moved to 10 a.m.

Here are live updates from Florida (33-18, 14-12 SEC) vs. Kentucky (30-17, 12-14 SEC):

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 8th: Kentucky 4, Florida 1

05/09/2026 09:30:06 PM

Peterson was pulled in the eighth after a two-out single. He had seven Ks in a career-high 7.2 innings with eight hits, four runs and one walk allowed. Ernesto Lugo-Canchola replaced him and struck out Lawrence to end the frame. Yost had UF’s fourth hit of the night (and his second), but the Gators couldn’t capitalize. Lawson has the other two hits, while the rest of the team is 0-for-21.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 7th: Kentucky 4, Florida 1

05/09/2026 09:11:38 PM

Lawson smacked a leadoff homer to right field for Florida’s first score and finally some success for UF against Jelkin, who has allowed just three hits against 12 strikeouts. The Gators were in scoring position again with Surowiec at third, but Landon Stripling just missed the RBI single to extend the inning and trim the deficit more. Peterson gave up a leadoff single but then struck out three in a row. He had as many Ks in that inning as he did in his first six frames.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 6th: Kentucky 4, Florida 0

05/09/2026 08:50:02 PM

Ethan Hindle doubled to right field but was thrown out at third to end the frame. Jelkin struck out two more Gators in the sixth and is now up to 10 Ks with just two hits. He has retired 16 of the last 17 UF batters and 10 in a row. Peterson has three Ks with seven hits and four runs allowed.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 5th: Kentucky 4, Florida 0

05/09/2026 08:43:05 PM

The Wildcats added another run with Cloud’s homer to left field. That was the sixth jack allowed by Peterson this season, and all of them have come in three of his last four starts. Centerfielder Hayden Yost and shortstop Brendan Lawson both made great plays for outs. The fifth was another hitless inning for the Gators, who haven’t got on base since the third.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 4th: Kentucky 3, Florida 0

05/09/2026 08:31:47 PM

After a leadoff single by Lawerence, he advanced to second on a walk, third on a wild pitch and scored as Braxton Van Cleave reached on a fielder’s choice. Van Cleave was then caught stealing second by UF catcher Carson Bowen. Jelkin is dealing with his second 1-2-3 frame. He has retired 10 of the last 11 Gators. Just two hits for Florida so far.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 3rd: Kentucky 2, Florida 0

05/09/2026 08:06:36 PM

Peterson chucked another 1-2-3 frame with two flyouts and a groundout. He threw just seven pitches there and has retired eight batters in a row. Jelkin struck out Kurland and the Wildcats made a double play to end the inning.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 2nd: Kentucky 2, Florida 0

05/09/2026 07:52:22 PM

After giving up two runs on three hits in the first, Peterson responded with a 1-2-3 frame and fanned Caeden Cloud for the last out. Jelkin also tossed a 1-2-3 frame in the second and has struck out five of UF’s first seven batters.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 1st: Kentucky 2, Florida 0

05/09/2026 07:37:52 PM

The Wildcats opened the game with three straight hits, including an two RBI single Luke Lawrence to score the first two runners. Lawrence was later picked off at first for the final out. Brendan Lawson had his second straight hit after his bases-clearing double on Friday night snapped an 0-for-19 slump, but he was stranded on first as Cade Kurland, Blake Cyr and Ethan Surowiec struck out.

Florida Gators Starting Lineup

1. 2B Cade Kurland
2. SS Brendan Lawson
3. RF Blake Cyr
4. 3B Ethan Surowiec
5. DH Caden McDonald
6. C Karson Bowen
7. 1B Landon Stripling
8. LF Jacob Kendall
9. CF Hayden Yost

SP: RHP Liam Peterson

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