No. 21 Auburn Opens SEC Tournament vs. Kentucky

No. 21 Auburn Opens SEC Tournament vs. KentuckyNo. 21 Auburn Opens SEC Tournament vs. Kentucky

May 21, 2018

AUBURN (37-19, 15-15 SEC) vs. KENTUCKY (34-21, 13-17 SEC)

HOOVER, Ala. -- Seventh-seeded Auburn (37-19, 15-15 SEC) opens SEC Tournament play with a win-or-go-home matchup against 10th-seeded Kentucky (34-21, 13-17 SEC) Tuesday at 1 p.m. CT at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

The game will be broadcast live on SEC Network. Dave Neal (play-by-play), Ben McDonald (analyst) and Kris Budden (sideline) will call the action.

Fans can also listen to Rod Bramblett and Andy Burcham on the call on the Auburn Sports Network, which is available on the radio on WTGZ-FM (93.9), online at AuburnTigers.com, or on a mobile device via the TuneIn app. All games of the 2018 SEC Baseball Tournament will also air nationwide on SiriusXM via the SEC Radio Network.

Probable Starters

  • Tuesday -- Fr. RHP Jack Owen (2-2, 6.19) vs. Fr. RHP Daniel Harper (3-2, 5.24)

QUICK HITTERS

  • The Tigers are coming off their first series win vs. LSU since 2012 and are looking for their first .500 record or better in the SEC Tournament since 2003.
  • Auburn's 37 regular-season wins were the fourth most in a season since 2000 and the team's third place finish in the SEC West was its highest since 2011.
  • The Tigers have scored 116 runs in their last 10 SEC wins and were in double figures in seven games.
  • Will Holland went 10-for-14 with six runs, four doubles, two home runs and six RBI in the series vs. LSU. He is riding a six-game hitting streak and has led off five of the last eight games with extra-base hits - three doubles and two home runs.
  • Auburn has totaled 64 home runs this season, good for the most in a season since 2010 and the sixth most in program history. The Tigers have five players with 10+ home runs this season, matching the 2009 and 2010 teams for the most player with 10+ home runs in program history.
  • Freshman left-hander Jack Owen is 1-0 with a 3.07 ERA in his last four appearances and three starts. He has struck out 18 batters and issued three walks in 14.2 innings pitched.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

  • Kentucky enters the SEC Tournament with a 34-21 overall record and 13-17 mark in SEC play after being swept by Vanderbilt to close out the regular season.
  • Offensively, the Wildcats hit .294 as a team and rank third in the conference in the category. The team's .271 clip in conference play ranks sixth in the league. Kentucky is led by Kole Cottam's .346 batting average. Cottam is also tied with Luke Heyer for the team lead with 18 home runs. Heyer is tied with Edouard Julien for the SEC lead with 57 RBI.
  • On the mound, Kentucky's 5.41 team ERA is last in the league by more than half of a point. The Wildcats are also last in the SEC by more than a point with a 6.62 ERA during league games.

SERIES HISTORY vs. KENTUCKY

  • Auburn leads the all-time series against Kentucky, 79-45.
  • Away from home, the Tigers are 37-21 against the Wildcats, including 3-0 in the SEC Tournament.

FYI

  • Fans attending the 2018 SEC Baseball Tournament in Hoover are reminded that they will be asked to enter the event with clear bags and should be prepared to arrive early and to see a law enforcement presence in and around Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.