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SEC Baseball: Matchup of the Week

By Ryan Sweigart

Mar 12, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; SEC logo covered with confetti after the Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks in the championship game of the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Kentucky won 82-65. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; SEC logo covered with confetti after the Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks in the championship game of the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Kentucky won 82-65. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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(13) Auburn and (15) LSU battle on the diamond in this weekend’s SEC baseball matchup of the week.

No. 13 Auburn (32-18, 14-10) travels to Baton Rouge to play no. 15 LSU (32-17, 15-9) in a top-15 matchup this weekend.

Auburn is coming off a disappointing series against Alabama (19-29, 5-19), in which the Tide earned the sweep. Alabama won both doubleheader games on Saturday, and then outlasted Auburn in Sunday’s 15-inning marathon of a game.

LSU meanwhile defeated South Carolina (29-19, 11-13); splitting the first two, before getting an extra inning win in the rubber match.

This weekend could prove to be pivotal for both LSU and Auburn. With LSU just a game back of (6) Mississippi State (32-17, 16-8), and Auburn two games back of the Bulldogs, both schools desperately need this series.

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On paper, both teams are rather even, with a slight edge to LSU. LSU is second in the SEC in team batting average at .291, while Auburn is in fifth, at .284. The Bayou Bengals edge out the Tigers in total runs scored 320-314, as well.

When it comes to pitching, LSU is one spot ahead of Auburn in overall ERA, with the schools at 3.95 and 4.12, respectively. However, Auburn’s starters Keegan Thompson and Casey Mize have a combined average ERA of 1.74.

Off paper, and on the field, LSU looks even better. Auburn has lost 4 in a row, including a mid-week 8-2 loss against UAB. It’s safe to say momentum isn’t on their side. It only gets tougher as they enter a hostile environment against an LSU team that has won 5 of their last 7.

Both Tigers have a golden opportunity to put pressure on Mississippi State to keep winning. The winner of this series will be in good position to finish in the top two of the division, while the loser could end up all the way in fifth place. With so much on the line, expect the series to be tightly contested and exciting to watch.

Series Schedule:

Thursday- 6:30 PM CT, ESPN2
Friday- 7:00 PM CT, SECN+
Saturday- Noon CT, SECN

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