No. 13 Auburn (33-19-1, 17-13 SEC) enters their SEC Tournament opener Tuesday at the Hoover Met against Missouri (30-23, 10-20 SEC) riding the wave of an eight-game winning streak.

Auburn’s winning streak includes a three-game sweep against Missouri in the season finale last weekend in front of sellout crowds at Plainsman Park. Butch Thompson’s team will face Missouri on Tuesday’s fourth game to open the tournament. The third game starts at 4:30 CT, and the fourth begins 30 minutes after the third game ends.

Fans can watch the game on the SEC Network or stream on the Auburn Sports Network.

“We’ve worked hard to be playing for something,” Butch Thompson said. “It’s like catching a second wind. We’re trying to sell that to our ballclub heading into arguably the best amateur tournament that exists. We had great preparation and good spirit from the ball club. We’re excited.”

Auburn LHP Tommy Vail (5-1, 3.38) will toe the rubber vs. Missouri hurler Jr. LHP Javyn Pimental (1-1, 6.26). Auburn is 10-2 in games that Vail starts. He leads the SEC with a 1.47 ERA over the last six weeks and is 3-0 with 35 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings.

Vail’s hot streak also matches Auburn’s second half. The Tigers finished the season with a 12-3 record. Pitching isn’t the only way Auburn wins. The Tigers hit .329 and had a 3.21 ERA while outscoring the opponent 77-28 during the winning streak.

Auburn is the only team in the league with five straight series wins. The Tigers have road series wins against LSU, South Carolina, and Ole Miss.

Auburn earned the No. 5 seed in the SEC Tournament for the second straight season. It’s the first time since 2002-03 Auburn finished top five in the league in back-to-back seasons. Missouri enters the SEC Tournament as the No. 12 seed with a 30-23 overall record and a 10-20 record in SEC play.

Missouri ranks last in the league with a .262 average, including a .242 clip in league play. Meanwhile, Auburn’s bats and arms are heating up. Auburn is second in the league in hitting (.291) and third in ERA (4.41) in the last six weeks.

Auburn is looking to get back to the College World Series. Thompson wants the team to stay focused on their goals while enjoying the experience.

“There’s only one game to play,” Thompson told reporters. “We’re not going to go into different gears and different rhythms.

Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group.