SEC opponent preview: Auburn

Auburn missed the NCAA tournament last year, but Butch Thompson has led the program to the College World Series twice in the past five postseasons.

Photo credit to Addison Faucett/AU Athletics

The Bat Cats Central SEC opponent preview continues today with the Auburn Tigers. Kentucky will host Auburn for its first SEC home series, which will begin on March 21. Bat Cats Central will preview each SEC opponent and in-state rival Louisville over the coming weeks.

• Georgia Bulldogs preview

Quick hitters

• Head coach: Butch Thompson (322-234-1 overall, 283-213-1 at Auburn)

• Assistant coaches: Gabe Gross (associate head coach), Karl Nonemaker (associate head coach), Everett Teaford (pitching coach)

• All-time series: Auburn leads the all-time series 80-54

• Most recent series meeting: The Wildcats swept Auburn on the road last season. Kentucky took the opener 6-5 and then cruised to a 9-1 victory in Game 2 but needed some late magic to complete the series sweep. After falling behind 7-0 early in Game 3, Kentucky outscored the Tigers 13-1 the rest of the way to win 13-8. Kentucky comes into this season with plenty of momentum against Auburn. The Wildcats are 9-1 in their last 10 meetings against Butch Thompson’s team.

2024 review

After reaching the College World Series in 2022 and earning a host site for the NCAA Regional in 2023 — which saw the Tigers go two and out to end the season at 34-23-1 overall — Auburn took a step back in 2024. The Tigers went just 8-22, finishing with the fewest wins in the SEC. They barely edged out a winning record, finishing 27-26 overall.