Bat Cats Shutout USC-Upstate 3-0 in Game Two of Series

Behind stellar pitching, Kentucky Baseball took down USC-Upstate 3-0 on Saturday to improve to 2-0 on the young season.

After scoring 11 runs on 12 hits in Friday’s season opener, Kentucky managed just three runs on six hits Saturday. That didn’t matter however, as Kentucky’s pitching dominated the Spartans lineup.

LHP Dominic Niman, a transfer from Central Connecticut St., made his first career start for the Cats on Saturday. Niman mightily impressed, allowing no runs on just four hits with six strikeouts in five innings pitched.

Niman, voted a Preseason NCBWA First Team All-American, was one of the most sought after pitchers in the Transfer Portal. In his final season at CCSU in 2023, Niman compiled a 12-2 record with a 2.77 ERA in 104.0 IP. After just one appearance, he looks the part.

The Cats are 2-0 for the first time since 2022.

Kentucky Takes Advantage of Errors

Nick Lopez singled to kick off the game for the Cats, notching his fourth hit in his first six Wildcat at-bats.

Ryan Nicholson then followed with a walk, quickly putting runners on first and second. Devin Burkes was up at-bat next, hitting a grounder to third base. The Spartans made a throwing error, allowing Lopez to score all the way from second to put the Cats on top 1-0. This wasn’t the last Upstate error to come back and bite them.

The other two Wildcat runs came in the fourth inning. After Griffin Cameron and James McCoy kicked off the top of the fourth with back-to-back singles, McCoy would score from third thanks to another throwing error by Upstate 3B Vance Sheahan on a Nolan McCarthy grounder.

Cameron advanced to third on the error, scoring on the next play thanks to a Grant Smith groundout to second.

That was all she wrote for an uncharacteristically quiet Wildcat offense, saved by their pitching staff.

Ryan Waldschmidt Returns from ACL Tear

At Kentucky Baseball Media Day just two weeks ago, Nick Mingione gave a mid-March return estimate for OF Ryan Waldschmidt, who tore his ACL in late July 2023.

Waldschmidt made his return way ahead of schedule, as he pinch-hit for DH Reuben Church in the eighth inning of Saturday’s win. He grounded out in his lone at-bat, but a Waldschmidt return is huge for what is already a jam-packed Wildcat lineup.

In 2023, Waldschmidt batted .290 with an .872 OPS in 200 at bats over 59 games. He also slugged five home runs and hit 14 doubles. He was named to the Lexington All-Regional Team after hitting a home run and driving in 5 RBI.

While Waldy makes his way back from the torn ACL, expect him to alternate at DH with Reuben Church over the coming weeks. When he returns to the field, he’ll take over for James McCoy in left field.

Strong Transfer Play Cements Win

Following Niman’s strong Wildcat debut, Erskine grad transfer Johnny Hummel made his Wildcat debut in the bottom of the ninth.

Hummel, who was named to the Preseason NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List, struck out the side to earn his first save at Kentucky.

Just two games in, Niman, Hummel, 3B Nick Lopez, and 1B Ryan Nicholson look like great additions for the Cats out of the Portal.

Kentucky will attempt to finish off the sweep of USC-Upstate Sunday at 1:00 p.m. EST. Unlike Saturday’s game, Sunday’s game is streaming on ESPN+.

It wasn't pretty, but Kentucky takes down USC-Upstate 3-0 to improve to 2-0 on the young season.

LHP Dominic Niman, RHP Ryan Hagenow, and RHP Johnny Hummel combine to shut out the Spartans, allowing just five hits and no runs over nine innings. pic.twitter.com/TdHq8kC1OZ

— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerKSR) February 17, 2024