ATHENS, Ga. ? The fourth-ranked Kentucky baseball team goes for its first Southeastern Conference championship in school history this weekend when it faces No. 11 Georgia in a three-game set at Foley Field.

The series pits two of the hottest teams in the nation against each other. The Wildcats have won 16 of their last 17 games, including nine in a row, while the Bulldogs have won 12 straight. Kentucky (41-11, 19-8) has matched the school record with 41 wins and its eight consecutive conference victories has also tied a school record. The Wildcats are ranked second nationally in winning percentage.

In the SEC standings, UK holds a commanding two-game lead over Alabama with three left to play and can clinch a share of its first league championship in school history with one victory this weekend. Georgia (36-16, 16-11) needs a sweep this weekend to claim a share of the SEC East title.

If Kentucky were to win the SEC Championship, it would mark the first time in the 73-year history of the conference that a team went worst-to-first. Last year, UK was 7-22 in the league.

Thursday’s all-important series opener features a pair of lefties squaring off as UK starts senior Aaron Tennyson (4-2, 4.12) against senior Mickey Westphal (6-0, 4.08). Wildcat senior southpaw Craig Snipp (6-3, 3.23) faces UGA junior right-hander Brooks Brown (6-3, 3.53) on Friday.

On Saturday, sophomore right-hander Greg Dombrowski (9-1, 2.69) faces freshman lefty Nathan Moreau (7-1, 4.31).

The Bulldogs pitching staff will have its hands full against UK?s explosive offense, which leads the SEC in, among other things, runs, doubles, home runs, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Junior Ryan Strieby anchors the line up with a nation-leading 74 RBIs and 18 home runs, which is sixth-best nationally.

Kentucky is just 1-17-1 against Georgia this decade.