Cats look to regain momentum in SEC home opener

Losers of three of their last four, the Wildcats have a big opportunity at home against Auburn.

Photo by Caleb Bowlin of UK Athletics

After dropping the rubber match to No. 4 Georgia on last weekend, the Kentucky baseball team returned home on Tuesday night and dropped its first midweek game of the season in a 5-4 decision to Murray State.

It was one of the most frustrating losses of the season, with two runners getting thrown out at home plate and two base runners making gaffes at second base to get erased. It’s a long season, and playing in the SEC means there’s no time to look back at what could’ve been.

The Auburn Tigers, ranked No. 17 by Baseball America, come to Kentucky Proud Park for a three-game series. It’ll present an interesting question of home field advantage on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET, about 50 minutes before the start of Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament first round matchup with Troy. If that wasn’t enough to thin out a potential crowd, Auburn coach Butch Davis and his players might’ve gotten more good fortune with the Tigers’ basketball team being in town for their first and second round games at Rupp Arena. It’s an unusual dynamic that might lead to a good contingent of Auburn fans at Kentucky Proud Park on Friday night while many Kentucky supporters choose to watch hoops.

Nevertheless, the Wildcats will look to even their SEC record at 2-2. This has been a good recent series for Kentucky; it’s won 9 out the last 10 meetings against Auburn, including a sweep on the Plains last year.

Here are three things to watch this weekend: