HOOVER, Ala. (Interstat) — The Southeastern Conference baseball tournament gets underway Tuesday afternoon at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium when seed Kentucky (31-20) faces seed Vanderbilt (32-23) in a single-elimination opener. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. CDT.

The Wildcats and Commodores split their regular‑season series three weeks ago, with Vanderbilt taking two of three games in Lexington. The Commodores won 13‑6 and 8‑7 before Kentucky salvaged a 5‑2 victory. Tuesday’s matchup projects to be equally tight; Interstat’s game simulator forecasts a 6‑5 Vanderbilt win.

Both teams enter the tournament after uneven weekends. Kentucky dropped two of three at home against Arkansas, falling 16‑12 in the finale Saturday despite a three‑hit, three‑RBI performance from center fielder Jayce Tharnish. The Wildcats’ pitching staff struggled against the Razorbacks, and the bullpen will be under scrutiny in a do‑or‑die setting.

Tharnish, a junior, has been one of Kentucky’s most consistent bats. Over his last 10 games he is hitting .341 with two home runs and six RBIs, including a 3‑for‑5 day with a homer and a double in an April road win at South Carolina. He also drove in four runs in the series against Arkansas.

Vanderbilt closed the regular season with a 5‑3 win over South Carolina on Saturday, powered by shortstop Ryker Waite’s three‑run homer. Waite has driven in 10 runs over his past six games and is hitting .267 during that span with two homers. He went 2‑for‑4 with three RBIs in a 9‑1 rout of the Gamecocks on May 14.

The Commodores’ pitching staff will rely on a mix of experienced arms. Jacob Faulkner threw four innings of two‑run ball against South Carolina, and Alex Kranzler worked a scoreless inning with two strikeouts. Vanderbilt’s overall team ERA is just below 4.00, but the bullpen has been inconsistent in close games.

Kentucky counters with a lineup that averages nearly seven runs per game, led by Tharnish and right fielder Carson Hansen, who had a home run and four RBIs in the loss to Arkansas. Starting pitcher Jack Bennett allowed two earned runs over four innings against the Razorbacks and will likely be called upon again.

The weather forecast for game time calls for temperatures in the mid‑80s with a slight chance of thunderstorms, typical for late May in central Alabama.

The winner advances to face the top seed in the double‑elimination bracket Wednesday. The loser is eliminated from the tournament.