Auburn eager to bounce back in SEC finale

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May 18, 2017

By Will Sahlie
AuburnTigers.com

AUBURN, Ala. - Hoping to regain momentum entering postseason play, No. 24 Auburn returns home this weekend to take on Ole Miss.

With classes over, Butch Thompson's Tigers held two-a-days this week, a chance to refresh after two disappointing weekends.

"I think it was good, it allowed us to probably spend more time together as a ball club now that school is out," Thompson said. "What it allowed us to do is get on the field for a shorter period of time, but maybe with a little more intensity.

"It's been good for us, it's allowed us to hit a reset button and refocus and get ready and really head into this last SEC weekend with no regrets."

The Tigers will look to get back to their winning ways in the final SEC series of the season. Auburn enters this weekend in 7th place in the SEC with the SEC Tournament coming up next week.

"I think every season comes down to, usually if you had a great year, a middle of the road year, a poor year, it gets down to where you have to win ballgames," Thompson said. "I think our season is down to that point. You want to play your best baseball once you get to this point of the season. We know we are playing for a lot. We know we need to win a series to just keep getting better as a ball club."

Auburn will return to its original starting rotation, with Keegan Thompson getting the start Thursday followed by Casey Mize and Davis Daniel. Keegan Thompson said the players have not let the late-season slide affect them.

"I think everyone has a positive attitude," he said. "We have struggled the past two weeks, but nobody has let that get to them. Everyone has come in this week with a positive attitude."

Auburn and Ole Miss will begin the three-game series Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Plainsman Park. Friday night's game will also start at 6 p.m. with Saturday's finale set for 1 p.m.