May 25, 2018
By Jeff Shearer
AuburnTigers.com
HOOVER, Ala. - Hoping two SEC Tournament wins will convince the selection committee to award Auburn an NCAA regional host site, coach Butch Thompson made his case Friday night after the Tigers exited the SEC Tournament.
"I believe in the baseball committee," Thompson said. "I think they're going to do what's best for college baseball. I do believe in my heart of hearts that if there's a fifth host site awarded [to the Southeastern Conference], it would be Auburn University.
"I think they know what a body of work looks like. I think our name is sitting there to be evaluated by the committee, and we'll trust whatever they hand down. I'm excited about the opportunity for our players next week.
"We're excited about getting back to work and trying to grow and get better from the lessons that we learned this week. I am excited that Auburn gets to go to an NCAA regional back-to-back years for the first time in 15 years."
After a promising beginning in Hoover -- wins over Kentucky and Ole Miss - the Tigers lost Thursday to Texas A&M and a rematch with the Rebels on Friday, tallying five hits in a 7-0 defeat.
"In these four games, I thought from a pitching standpoint, we can piece together enough to be super competitive in a regional," Thompson said. "I thought defensively we did enough.
"If you're going to win a championship, you're going to have to finish strong in all three of these categories."
The 16 regional hosts will be announced Sunday at 7:30 p.m. The rest of the 64-team field will be released on Memorial Day at 11 a.m.
"This is who we are, now that you've played this number of ballgames," Thompson said. "We're knocking on 40 wins (39-21), and we have to accept who we are. We have to continue to work hard and prepare.
"This team can be exciting. This team has defensive pieces in the middle, this team has pitching, this team has a good catcher, this team has power. We have to figure out and understand, this is who we are. This is our identity, and get our best players playing the best heading into a regional."
"They know what a body of work looks like."
🗣@3strikes_AU on prospect of @AuburnBaseball hosting an @NCAACWS regional.
AU heading to back-to-back regionals for the first time in 15 years. pic.twitter.com/YdGb2vjf4R- Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) May 26, 2018
"I want our goal for @AuburnBaseball to be part of this @SEC Tournament on the weekend."
🗣@3strikes_AU pic.twitter.com/fSeOG7UBJW- Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) May 26, 2018
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @jeff_shearer