Dominic Niman Named SEC Pitcher of the Week
Dominic Niman, fresh off a scintillating shutout effort against Alabama, has been named Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league announced Monday. He is the seventh Kentucky pitcher to win the award during Coach Nick Mingione’s eight years at the helm and first since Tyler Guilfoil in 2022.
Niman joins Sean Hjelle (2017 at Texas A&M) and Zack Thompson (2019 vs. Georgia) in that elite company and both those previous pitchers are now in Major League Baseball.
Niman threw 100 pitches and allowed only one Alabama hitter to reach second base. He did not walk a player, struck out seven and allowed just three hits while hitting one batter. The performance was a complete undressing of an offense averaging nine runs a game and ranking among Division I’s top 15 offenses in multiple categories.
A look at Niman’s award-winning performance:
- Niman allowed just three hits, walked none and struck out seven on 100 pitches.
- Niman joins Sean Hjelle and Zack Thompson as the only three pitchers in the Mingione Era to throw complete game shutouts.
- It is just the second CG shutout in the SEC this season and only by a SEC pitcher vs. a conference opponent.
- No Alabama player reached third and only one reached second.
- The three hits allowed was the fewest by Alabama this season, the previous low being six.
- It’s the first time Bama has been shut out in 2024.
- The performance was a complete undressing of an offense averaging nine runs a game and ranking among Division I’s top 15 offenses in multiple categories.
- He is the only SEC pitcher to throw a CG shutout in conference play this season.
- He joins Vandy’s Devin Futrell as the only two to accomplish the feat at all this season.
- He led all SEC pitchers in innings pitched this week and was the biggest highlight of a staff that allowed just three runs in 23.0 IP by its three starters.
Kentucky Opens the Week Tuesday Night at Samford
Winners of 15 of its last 16 games, Kentucky hits the road for an Alabama road trip that includes Tuesday night’s stop at Samford before heading on to Auburn to face the Tigers in a rare Thursday-Saturday series.
UK (27-4, 11-1 Southeastern Conference) completed a sweep of Alabama over the weekend, outscoring the Crimson Tide 23-3 behind sensational pitching and timely offense. Saturday starter Dominic Niman was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week after his three-hit shutout.
The Wildcats travel to a typically strong Samford (21-10) club looking to pick off a top 10 opponent. UK has taken care of business the past few years, winning 19 of the last 20 non-conference regular season games, dating to the 2022 season.
Tuesday night’s game is at 7:30 p.m. ET and will stream live on ESPN+.
GAME DETAILS
Tuesday, April 8 at Samford
7:30 p.m. ET; Birmingham, Alabama (Joe Lee Griffin Field)
Radio: UK Sports Network (98.5 locally) | Live Stream: ESPN+
