Doug Nikhazy earns SEC Pitcher of the Week honors

Ole Miss sophomore Doug Nikhazy has been named SEC Pitcher of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. This is the third SEC weekly award for Doug, after being tapped for two SEC Freshman of the Week awards in 2019.

In Friday’s win over Xavier, Nikhazy threw 6.0 innings of no-hit baseball en route to allowing just two baserunners via walks while striking out nine.

Two freshman Rebel pitchers, Drew McDaniel and Jackson Kimbrell, each made their collegiate debut as they received Nikhazy and continued the team’s first nine-inning no-hitter since 1966.

Nikhazy’s nine strikeouts against the Musketeers were the second-most in his career behind the 10 Ks he tallied against Texas A&M on April 26, 2019. It was also Nikhazy’s third career scoreless start and his third start in which he allowed three hits or fewer.

Here’s what Doug had to say after his performance against Xavier Friday night:

This is the second week in a row the Rebels have garnered SEC weekly honors. Cael Baker was named SEC Co-Player of the Week in Week 1.

Here are the complete SEC Weekly Awards for Week 2:

Co-Player of the Week: Bryce Blaum, Texas A&M
Co-Player of the Week: Robert Moore, Arkansas
Pitcher of the Week: Doug Nikhazy, Ole Miss
Co-Freshman of the Week: Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt
Co-Freshman of the Week: Josh Rivera, Florida

Next Up:

Ole Miss returns to action Tuesday, hosting in-state rival Southern Miss for a 4 p.m. CT midweek contest. The Rebels hit the road this weekend for the first time during the 2020 for the Keith LeClair Classic in Greenville, North Carolina.

Evelyn Van Pelt

Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.