No, really, this is the series Auburn has to win if it wants to make the SEC Tournament.

The Tigers travel to Kentucky this weekend for a three-game series that, unlike the previous must-win series that ended sourly, will directly determine whether or not they have a chance of snapping a five-year drought from making the eight-team field.

“Obviously a big weekend for us,” coach John Pawlowski said. “Our backs are against the wall.”

Auburn, as Pawlowski acknowledged, only has itself to blame for its precarious situation, which has gotten worse and worse as the games remaining continue to dwindle.

After one of their worst all-around weekends in a sweep to Ole Miss, the Tigers dropped from ninth to 10th in the SEC standings, falling behind ninth-place Kentucky. They are two-and-a-half games behind Vanderbilt for the eighth and final spot with six conference games left to play.

Even if the Tigers win out, the best they could finish would be seventh overall in the conference and fifth in the West division, where it currently sits.

“They really understand the importance of each and every game from here on out,” Pawlowski said. “It’s going to be one of those things where we’ve just got to do the things we’re capable of doing and see what happens.”

If last weekend, and the past few Mays, are any indication, it isn’t much.

Auburn has lost seven straight conference games and 10 of its past 11. Since 2004, the most wins Auburn has mustered in the month of May is four.

“We haven’t talked about what’s happened in the past because we really don’t know,” Pawlowski said. “I know the numbers, I know the results, but we’ve tried to focus in on different things.

“It’s not easy. It’s certainly not easy.”

Auburn’s left-handed heavy lineup won’t get any favors from Kentucky’s left-handed heavy rotation this weekend. The Tigers will see lefthanders both today and Saturday, going against James Paxton and Chris Rusin, respectively.

Auburn is 13-9 against lefthanders this season, but is 0-2 since right-handed slugger Joseph Sanders went down with a broken jaw April 21. The Tigers will likely have just two right-handed hitters in their lineup throughout the weekend.

“Obviously, with Joe Sanders being out, it completely changed our whole lineup, which makes it difficult, but somebody else has got to step up if we’re going to move forward,” Pawlowski said. “I think it’s changed the complexion of our lineup, certainly. But injuries do happen.”

Auburn comes into today’s game, which is set for 5:30 at Cliff Hagan Stadium, as rested as it will ever be. The Tigers did not play a midweek game for the first time since late March.

“I think it’s really positive,” Pawlowski said. “Especially when you’re struggling a little bit.”

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