No. 18 Auburn wraps up regular season at Kentucky

No. 18 Auburn wraps up regular season at KentuckyNo. 18 Auburn wraps up regular season at Kentucky
Jacob Taylor/AU Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – No. 18 Auburn (36-16, 15-11 SEC) concluded its regular-season slate with a three-game series at Kentucky (28-23, 10-17 SEC) Thursday through Saturday.

First pitches at Kentucky Proud Park are scheduled for Thursday and Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT and Saturday at 1 p.m.
 

Next Games:

at Kentucky
May 19-21, 2022
5:30 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. | 1 p.m. CT
Radio: Auburn Sports Network

  
"Across the entire league, these games are meaningful this weekend. That's what's so great about playing in the Southeastern Conference" head coach Butch Thompson said. "Us and our opponent, Kentucky, are playing for everything. We're playing for position and seeding. We're playing for an opportunity to extend the season into next week at the SEC Tournament and hopefully beyond."
 
All three games will be broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network and can be heard locally on 93.9 FM. The contests will also be available for streaming on SEC Network+.  
 PROBABLE STARTERS 
Thursday – Jr. RHP Mason Barnett (2-1, 4.12) vs. TBA
 
Friday – Jr. RHP Trace Bright (2-4, 4.76) vs. TBA
 
Saturday – So. RHP Joseph Gonzalez (6-2, 2.98) vs. TBA
 QUICK HITTERS 
Auburn enters the weekend riding a four-game winning streak, outscoring opponents 28-14 with a .326 batting average and 3.50 ERA during the stretch.
 
The team is 14-7 in games played away from Plainsman Park this season, marking the most road and neutral-site wins among SEC teams.
 
The 14 wins away from home are tied for the second most in a season since 2003 (16 wins, 2019).
 
The Tigers are 18-7 in the last 25 games, tied with Texas A&M for the second-best record in the league during the span (Tennessee: 19-6).
 
Auburn is 20 games above .500 for the first time since finishing the 2018 season 43-23.
 
The Tigers have guaranteed a winning SEC record for the second time under head coach Butch Thompson and just the third time in the last 19 seasons (2010, 2017, 2022).
 
Auburn's bullpen didn't allow a run in 22.2 innings from May 10-17 and is 5-0 with a 1.27 ERA in the last six games and 35.1 innings pitched.
 SCOUTING THE WILDCATS 
Kentucky enters the weekend with a 28-23 overall record, including a 10-17 mark in SEC play.
 
The Wildcats have won a pair of series against top 25 teams in Lexington and are the only team to hand No. 1 Tennessee a series loss this season.
 
Offensively, Kentucky is hitting .276 as a team and is led by Daniel Harris' .322 clip. Chase Estep leads the way with 52 runs, 13 homers, 47 RBI and 16 stolen bases.
 
On the mound, The Wildcats have turned in a 4.95 staff ERA and have struck out 516 batters in 442.0 innings.
 UP NEXT 
The SEC Tournament begins next Tuesday, May 24, in Hoover. Auburn would secure a first-round bye with a series win this weekend.