PREVIEW: No. 8 Kentucky travels to Auburn for weekend series
No. 8 Kentucky and Auburn will clash in both team’s fifth SEC series of the season this weekend.
Kentucky has started SEC play with an 11-1 record (27-5 overall) and sit alone in first place in the SEC East. They are tied for first overall in the conference with Arkansas. Auburn however has gotten off to the worst start in the SEC, sitting at a lowly 2-10 (18-14 overall), dead last in the SEC West.
Both teams enter Thursday’s series opener riding the pine however, as Kentucky and Auburn both lost midweek games on Tuesday. Kentucky lost on the road at Samford 9-7, and Auburn lost at home to Alabama State 3-2.
Auburn
Auburn’s SEC gauntlet continues this weekend, as Kentucky marks the fifth consecutive top-ten team the Tigers have played a conference series against (Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Texas A&M, and Tennessee). They have yet to win a conference series.
The Tigers’ two lone SEC victories came at home, in the series finale against Arkansas and the series opener against Tennessee. Auburn is 13-7 overall at Plainsman Park this season.
Auburn is led offensively by sophomore outfielder Ike Irish (.363 BA, 11 HR, 47 RBI), RS junior first baseman Cooper McMurray (.351 BA, 12 HR, 46 RBI), and senior outfielder Mason Maners (.318 BA, 6 HR). Irish, who was voted Preseason All-SEC First Team, was named to the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List on April 4.
Their pitching staff however has been disappointing this season, as they boast a 5.80 team ERA. Junior right-hander Chase Allsup, who is Saturday’s probable starter, is the innings leader for the Tigers. Over 38 innings pitched, he holds a gaudy 7.11 ERA.
Kentucky and Auburn have played two common opponents in Eastern Kentucky and Samford. Auburn swept EKU to open the season and downed Samford 12-3 on Feb. 27.
Kentucky
The Wildcats have been road warriors in the SEC this season, as they boast a 5-1 road record with a sweep of Ole Miss.
Kentucky looks to keep its domination of the SEC as a whole going this weekend. Over its first four conference series, the Cats are outscoring opponents 114-43.
Four Wildcat batters remain above the .300 line, including grad transfer DH Nick Lopez (.396 BA, 13 doubles, 23 RBI), junior second baseman Émilien Pitre (.331 BA, 4 HR, 34 RBI), senior shortstop Grant Smith (.320 BA, 22 RBI), and junior left fielder Ryan Waldschmidt (.304 BA, 16 RBI).
After a stellar weekend of pitching in its sweep of Alabama, Kentucky’s team ERA lowered to 3.61, which is third-best in the SEC. It’s 3.09 ERA in SEC games is good for second best in the conference.
The Cats used just five total pitchers over the span of three games, allowing just three total runs. Left-hander Dominic Niman was named SEC Pitcher of the Week for his performance last Saturday, when he held the Tide to just three hits and no runs in nine innings pitched.
Right-hander Mason Moore earned his seventh victory of the season last Sunday. His seven pitching victories are tied for second most in the country and are most in the SEC.
Probable Starters
ALL-TIME SERIES: Auburn leads 80-51
Game 1: Thursday, April 11, 2024 (Plainsman Park – 7:30 p.m. EST) ESPNU
UK: RHP Trey Pooser (3-0, 3.38 ERA, 32.0 IP) vs AUB: RHP Dylan Watts (0-0, 5.65 ERA, 14.1 IP)
Game 2: Friday, April 12, 2024 (Plainsman Park – 7:00 p.m. EST) SEC Network+
UK: LHP Dominic Niman (6-2, 3.59 ERA, 47.2 IP) vs AUB: RHP Chase Allsup (1-2, 7.11 ERA, 38.0 IP)
Game 3: Saturday, April 13, 2024 (Plainsman Park – 3:00 p.m. EST) SEC Network+
UK: RHP Mason Moore (7-0, 2.62 ERA, 44.2 IP) vs AUB: TBD
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