Tigers, Slater face uphill climb

Auburn’s baseball players, like the rest of the university’s student body, began final exams on Thursday.

Head coach Tom Slater faces a serious test of his own over the next three weeks, starting with this weekend’s series against last-place Mississippi State.

With nine Southeastern Conference games left on the schedule, Auburn is in 11th place in the conference standings. It’s been more than three weeks since Auburn (24-22, 8-13 SEC) won a game not started by ace Grant Dayton.

The Tigers, who have lost three consecutive SEC series, are in danger of missing the SEC Tournament for the fifth year in a row.

If that happens, Slater’s job could be in jeopardy. AU hasn’t qualified for the SEC tourney in Slater’s tenure and hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2005, his first season.

Auburn officials aren’t commenting on Slater’s job status. In a statement released by the university, athletic director Jay Jacobs focused on the positive aspects of Auburn’s record.

“We’re three games out of first place in the division and have nine games left,” Jacobs said. “We’re ready to go.”

Auburn will likely need to win at least six of its remaining nine SEC games to qualify for the conference tournament. It can be done — the Tigers went 6-3 in a three-week span earlier this season against Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas, all currently ahead of AU in the standings.

But that was before the current losing streak, which has reached three consecutive games and nine of the last 11.

Slater says he isn’t changing his approach over the next nine games. For the second consecutive week, the Tigers aren’t listing a Sunday starter. That decision gives Slater more flexibility in the bullpen, though it could leave the pitching staff shorthanded in the series finale.

But the goal is to win now and not to worry about the future.

“We just try to go out and win ballgames,” Slater said. “The players know we need to finish strong these next three weeks so we can have an opportunity to get to Birmingham, which is what every team in our league is shooting for.

“We’re still in that mix. We need to win series the next three weeks. They know that, and no amount of talk is going to change that.”

Auburn will be without regular Saturday starter Cory Luckie this weekend. Luckie injured his forearm last Saturday at Alabama, but an MRI exam revealed no serious damage.

The sophomore left-hander is expected to return to the rotation next week against Ole Miss. Sophomore Taylor Thompson will start Saturday’s game.

Freshman first baseman Hunter Morris, AU’s top hitter, is expected to play this weekend. Morris, who has been slowed by a bruised side, could serve as the Tigers’ designated hitter, but Slater hopes he’ll be healthy enough to play first base.

AU will honor retiring Mississippi State head coach Ron Polk with a pregame ceremony Friday. Former Auburn coach Hal Baird will present Polk with gifts to honor his retirement.

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