AUBURN, Ala. – No. 7 Auburn (38-17, 17-13 SEC) starts postseason play with its 31st all-time appearance in the Southeastern Conference Tournament Wednesday night at the Hoover Met.
The Tigers earned a bye after finishing sixth in the regular season and will take on the winner of Tuesday night’s game between Mississippi State (34-20, 15-15 SEC) and Texas A&M (28-25, 11-19 SEC) Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 30 minutes after the conclusion of the game beginning at 4:30 p.m. CT.
“I’ve always embraced this tournament,” head coach Butch Thompson said. “I think there’s a flood of confidence that comes if you can have a chance to play that last day or win this tournament. It does amazing things for your fans, your program, your players. It makes anything seem possible because there isn’t a better collection of teams than in the SEC Tournament.”
Wednesday’s game will be broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network and can be heard locally on Wings 94.3 FM. It will also be broadcast nationally on SEC Network.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Wednesday – So. RHP Cam Tilly (3-2, 4.71) vs. TBA
QUICK HITTERS
Auburn’s 38 regular season wins are the most since 2010 (39) and the 17 SEC wins are tied for the most since that same season (20).
The Tigers were one of four SEC teams to win seven or more league series this season and enter the postseason with the No. 1 strength of schedule and No. 2 RPI.
The team’s 15 quad one wins are tied for the third most in the country, and the eight wins against top RPI top 10 are tied for the most.
The nine-game SEC turnaround from last year to this year is the largest in the league since 2015-16 and tied for the seventh largest since the schedule expanded to 30 games in 1996.
Ike Irish (First Team), Samuel Dutton (Second Team), Chris Rembert (Second Team, All-Freshman Team), Chase Fralick (All-Freshman Team), Bub Terrell (All-Freshman Team) and Eric Guevara (All-Defensive Team) earned All-SEC honors earlier this week.
The Tigers six All-SEC honorees are tied for the second most in program history.
The offense has scored 91 runs on 101 hits and is hitting .388 in the last seven games.
Auburn has won its opening game in the SEC Tournament in 15 of its 30 tournament appearances.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Mississippi State enters the postseason with a 34-20 overall record and 15-15 mark in SEC play after going 8-1 in its final three series of the season.
Offensively, the Bulldogs rank second in the league with a .309 batting average and have scored 437 runs on 558 hits, including 97 home runs. SEC Newcomer of the Year Ace Reese leads the way with a .369 average to go along with 76 hits, 18 doubles, 21 home runs and 66 RBI.
On the mound, Mississippi State has turned in a 4.39 staff ERA with 595 strikeouts and 183 walks in 452.2 innings. The 595 strikeouts are good for sixth in the league, and the .227 average against is good for fourth.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
Texas A&M enters the week with a 28-25 overall record and 11-19 mark in SEC play. The Aggies won four of five series from Apr. 4-May 4 but dropped five of their last six conference games to end the regular season.
Offensively, Texas A&M ranks last in the league with a .263 team average and has scored 380 runs on 450 hits, including 93 home runs. Graduate infielder Wyatt Henseler leads the team with a .320 average, while junior outfielder Jace LaViolette leads the way with 17 home runs and 55 RBI.
On the mound, the Aggies have turned in a 4.43 staff ERA with 479 strikeouts and 143 walks in 445.0 innings pitched. The walks allowed are the fewest in the league by 22 free passes, but the .251 average against is 13th.
SEC TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
For all information surrounding the tournament, including how to follow along or purchase tickets, click here.