OXFORD, Miss. (Interstat) — Jaxon Jelkin pitched seven no-hit innings and the Kentucky Wildcats capitalized on a costly error to score three unearned runs in the fourth, defeating the Mississippi Rebels 3-1 in a Southeastern Conference matchup Friday evening at Swayze Field.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded under the lights, was a stark pitching duel for much of its duration. Jelkin, a right-hander for the Wildcats, was dominant from the outset. He carried a no-hitter through seven full innings, allowing only one unearned run while striking out six and walking three. His performance was a remarkable rebound from his previous start against Alabama on March 13, where he allowed four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Mississippi starter Hudson Calhoun matched Jelkin zero for zero through three innings, striking out seven Wildcats. The game’s decisive turn came in the top of the fourth against Calhoun. Luke Lawrence led off with a double to center field and advanced to third on a single by T. Bell. Hudson Brown then hit a fly ball to center field that was dropped, a two-base error that allowed both Lawrence and Bell to score. Brown later scored on a triple by Owen Jenkins, with all three Kentucky runs being unearned.

The Rebels broke up the combined no-hit bid and scored their lone run in the bottom of the sixth off Jelkin. Catcher Austin Fawley launched a solo home run to left center. Brayden Randle followed with a single, but Jelkin escaped further damage to preserve a 3-1 lead.

Kentucky’s bullpen sealed the victory. Nile Adcock relieved Jelkin to start the eighth and pitched two perfect innings, striking out two, to earn the save. The Wildcats’ staff held Mississippi to just four hits and the Rebels grounded into two double plays, stifling potential rallies.

Mississippi relievers JP Robertson and Landon Waters were exceptional in defeat, combining for 5 1/3 innings of scoreless, three-hit relief with eight strikeouts after replacing Calhoun in the fourth. The Rebels’ pitchers totaled 15 strikeouts on the night.

The victory improved Kentucky’s record to 19-3 overall and evened the series after a 5-0 loss on Thursday. Mississippi fell to 18-6. The teams will meet for the series finale on Saturday.

The most important sequence of the game was the top of the fourth inning. With two elite pitchers dealing zeros, the contest hinged on a single defensive mistake. The dropped fly ball by the Mississippi center fielder transformed a potential scoreless tie into a two-run deficit. The subsequent triple by Jenkins provided a critical third run, which proved decisive given the Rebels’ inability to solve Jelkin and the Wildcats’ bullpen. That half-inning, fueled entirely by unearned runs, defined the outcome.