Kentucky shuts out Alabama 7-0 to secure series victory
No. 17 Kentucky shut out No. 13 Alabama 7-0 on Saturday to secure its fourth SEC series victory of the season.
Left-hander Dominic Niman dominated the Crimson Tide, who entered the weekend as one of America’s hottest offenses. Niman pitched a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits while striking out seven batters.
“Today was awesome,” Niman said postgame. “It feels great getting a win for the guys.”
Niman’s complete game shutout marks the first by a Kentucky pitcher against SEC competition since lefty Zack Thompson did so against Georgia on March 29, 2019.
Kentucky improves to 26-4 (10-1) with the win. Their 10-1 start in SEC play is the best in program history.
Through their first 30 games last season, the Cats were 27-3 (9-1), so they’re right on track to host a Lexington Regional for the second consecutive year. They even be in position to host a Super Regional for the first time ever.
The Bat Cats are rollin’.
Players of the Game
- LHP Dominic Niman: Niman shined, pitching a complete game shutout. The lefty allowed just three hits while striking out seven batters.
- LF Ryan Waldschmidt: Waldschmidt drove in two runs courtesy of his fourth home run of the season. Went 2-4 at the plate with a stolen base.
- SS Grant Smith: Smith put the Tide away in the sixth with a two-run Big Blue Bomb.
Cats strike first once again
For the third consecutive game, Kentucky scratched across the first run of the outing.
After a forgettable 0-5 game for Ryan Waldschmidt Friday night, Waldschmidt opened his big day with a single up the middle. He then stole second and nabbed third on an Emilien Pitre fly-out, putting a quick runner in scoring position for the Cats.
With Waldschmidt on third, Devin Burkes knocked an RBI sac-fly to left field, deep enough to score the speedy left fielder for Kentucky’s first run of the game.
Waldschmidt’s redemption game continues
Waldschmidt’s redemption game continued in the third inning, where he opened Kentucky’s lead up even more via the long ball.
On a 1-0 count, the righty belted a two-run Big Blue Bomb just over the right field fence for his fourth home run of the season. The ball traveled 351 feet.
“We always talk about how the wins expire at midnight, so whatever you did that day also expires at midnight,” Waldschmidt said postgame. “It’s a big thing for me to forget about it. We won as a team. I looked forward to that and playing again today.”
Four-run sixth inning cements series victory
The Wildcat offense stepped on the gas in the sixth inning, scoring four runs to nail down their fourth consecutive SEC series victory.
Alabama starting pitcher Greg Farone walked Nick Lopez and plunked Mitch Daly to open the inning, marking the end of his outing.
Nolan McCarthy capitalized on the free bases, sneaking an RBI-single to right field to bring in Kentucky’s fourth run of the game. James McCoy then continued his hot streak, following up McCarthy’s RBI-single with an RBI-double down the left field line. The RS sophomore has totaled eight hits and six RBI over the last four games.
Grant Smith capped off the big inning with a 367 foot two-run home run over the right field fence, marking his second Big Blue Bomb of the season. Suddenly, the Cats led 7-0 and were well on their way to the series victory.
“The guys are so competitive on every level,” coach Nick Mingione said postgame. “From the mound to defensively to the way they’re fighting offensively, they’re just competing. I’ve been fortunate enough to go to the College World Series five times and been apart of a lot of championships. The number one thing you have to do is compete. That’s where the foundation starts.”
Series victory (again), Wildcats.
Niman returned to the mound in the ninth inning, sitting down the Tide offense in order to finish off the win.
Kentucky is now 4-1 in the regular season against Alabama over the last two seasons.
“What an awesome crowd,” Mingione beamed postgame. “So thankful for all these people who continue to come out. I told our players, ‘You win baseball games, you compete, you represent Kentucky the right way and the Big Blue Nation will show up’ and they did today.”
3,866 Kentucky fans packed into a gorgeous Kentucky Proud Park on Saturday afternoon.
What’s next for No. 17 Kentucky?
The Bat Cats will go for their third SEC series sweep of the season Sunday at noon.
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