As conference play rolls on, No. 8 Kentucky baseball is set for a road series against Auburn. 

The Wildcats remain atop the SEC East entering the series with an 11-1 one record after sweeping Georgia, taking a road series against Missouri and sweeping Ole Miss before returning home and sweeping Alabama.

Looking at the Tigers, they currently sit at last in the SEC West with a 2-10 record after being swept by Vanderbilt, losing two of three to Arkansas, being swept by Texas A&M and losing two of three to Tennessee.

The series runs Thursday through Saturday, which is different from the Friday through Sunday series that the Wildcats have played to this point.

Team comparison

Beginning with the offense, the Wildcats are second in the SEC with a .316 batting average since conference play began. The Tigers are seventh in the SEC with a .269 batting average since the start of conference play.

Looking at slugging percentage, the Wildcats enter the weekend second in the SEC with at .550 since conference play began. As for the Tigers, their .440 slugging percentage ranks ninth in the SEC in conference play.

When it comes to on-base percentage, the Cats come in at .421 in conference play, which is second in the SEC. The Tigers and their .338 on-base percentage in conference play ranks 12th in the SEC.

Moving to the mound, the Wildcat staff is second in the SEC with a team ERA of 3.09 since conference play started while the Tigers are last in the SEC with a 9.18 team ERA since conference play began.

Looking at batting average against, the Cats rank first in the SEC with a .188 BAA in conference games while Auburn is last in the SEC with a .314 BAA in conference competition.

Offensive players to watch

Starting with the home Tigers, Ike Irish leads offensive starters with a .408 batting average and a .473 on-base percentage in conference play while also posting a .735 slugging percentage. 

Irish also leads the Tigers with a .365 season batting average. Also on the year, Irish has posted a .442 on base percentage along with a .718 slugging percentage.

Another name to watch out for on offense is Cooper McMurray, who leads the Tigers’ starters with an .814 slugging percentage in conference games while also being second on the team with a .372 batting average and in conference play. McMurray also sports a .463 on-base percentage in conference play.

On the season, McMurray also leads the team with a .757 slugging percentage, .476 on base percentage and his second on the team with a .351 batting average. 

Rounding out the trio of offensive threats is Chris Stanfield, who enters the series with a .326 batting average, .356 on-base percentage and .349 slugging percentage in conference play.

Like his teammates, Stanfield’s numbers are up from his overall season stats that showcase a .279 batting average, .381 on-base percentage and .404 slugging percentage. 

The Tigers will look to use Irish’s uptick in production since conference play began, McMurray’s power surge and Stanfield’s production to guide their offensive attack. 

As for the visiting Wildcats, James McCoy has had the hottest start to conference play with team highs among Wildcat starters with a .375 batting average, .463 on-base percentage and a .719 slugging percentage.

These are all up from McCoy’s season numbers that show a .294 batting average, .441 on-base percentage and .549 slugging percentage. 

Nick Lopez has been another producer both in conference and on the season. Starting with conference play, Lopez has posted a .370 batting average, .444 on-base percentage and .534 slugging. 

Lopez on the year has posted a similar stat-line on the full season as he has posted a .393 batting average, .447 on-base percentage and a .607 slugging percentage. 

Rounding out the Wildcats trio is Nolan McCarthy who has found his stride since conference play began posting a .370 batting average, .356 on-base percentage and a .500 slugging percentage. 

These numbers are elevated compared to his season long numbers that show a .278 batting average, .356 on-base percentage and a .500 slugging percentage. 

Like his teammates, McCarthy’s conference numbers are up from his season’s numbers that showcase a .278 batting average, .356 on-base percentage and .500 slugging. 

The Wildcats will rely on Lopez’s consistency along with McCarthy’s and McCoy’s conference hot streaks to keep their own team conference hot streak alive.

Pitching matchups

The series beginning on Thursday and ending on Saturday may change the timing of when some pitchers might throw for the Wildcats and the Tigers.

Nonetheless, Trey Pooser normally starts the Friday night matchup in the weekend starting rotation, posting a 2.29 ERA while tossing 19.5 innings across three starts. Pooser has surrendered five earned runs while striking out 15 batters.

On the season both out of the bullpen and starting, Pooser has accumulated a 3.38 ERA, as he has given up 12 earned runs in 32 innings pitched while he has also struck out 30 batters.

In game two for the Wildcats to this point  it has been Dominic Niman, who has pitched to a 2.83 ERA in 28.2 innings across four conference starts. Niman has surrendered nine earned runs and has also struck out 26 batters.

For Niman on the season, the lefty has a 3.59 ERA and leads the team with 47.2 innings pitched and 43 strikeouts. Niman has given up 19 earned runs on the year.

To this point, in game three it has been Mason Moore, who has a 3.13 ERA in four conference starts in which he has surrendered eight earned runs in 23 total innings pitched. Moore has also struck out 22 batters.

Moore leads the Wildcats’ staff on the season with a 2.62 ERA in 44.2 innings pitched. Moore has struck out 41 batters and given up 13 earned runs.

The Tigers have had a revolving door when it comes to definite starters, but looking at innings pitched in conference games, Chase Allsup leads the Tigers with 19.1 innings pitched and has a 8.84 ERA. Allsup has surrendered 19 earned runs and has struck out 18 batters.

On the year, Allsup leads the team with 38 innings pitched and has a 7.11 ERA and has surrendered 30 earned runs and has struck out 41 batters.

Joseph Gonzalez is second on the Tigers’ staff in conference play with 11.2 innings pitched in which he has posted a 10.03 ERA. Gonzalez has given up 13 earned runs and struck out six batters. 

On the year, Gonzalez has 9.28 ERA across 21.1 innings pitched in which he has given up 22 earned runs and struck out 10 batters. 

The final arm that has been busy in conference play for the Tigers is Carson Myers, who has posted a 4.91 ERA in 11 innings pitched. Myers has also given up six earned runs and struck out nine batters.

On the season, Myers has a 4.13 ERA in 28.1 innings pitched in which he has struck out 22 batters and given up 13 earned runs. 

Now that the stage is set, Kentucky and Auburn will face off in game one of this three game set on Thursday, April 11 with first pitch scheduled for 7:30 p.m.