No. 19 Auburn Takes on Northeastern in Raleigh Regional

No. 19 Auburn Takes on Northeastern in Raleigh RegionalNo. 19 Auburn Takes on Northeastern in Raleigh Regional

May 31, 2018

AUBURN (39-21, 15-15 SEC) vs NORTHEASTERN (36-19, 17-6 CAA)



RALEIGH, N.C. - No. 19 Auburn (39-21, 15-15 SEC) begins its second straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament with a matchup against Northeastern (36-19, 17-6 CAA) in the Raleigh Regional Friday. First pitch between the Tigers and Huskies at Dail Park is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.

This weekend's action will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Jim Barbar and Troy Eklund on the call. Fans can also listen to Rod Bramblett and Andy Burcham on the Auburn Sports Network, which is available on the radio on WTGZ-FM (93.9), online at AuburnTigers.com, or on a mobile device via the TuneIn app.

Raleigh Regional ticket books are on sale now and can be purchased here. Single-game tickets, if available, will go on sale Friday at 7 a.m. CT.

Probable Starters

  • Friday - Fr. RHP Tanner Burns (6-4, 3.13) vs. R-Jr. RHP Tyler Brown (8-3, 4.20)

QUICK HITTERS

  • Auburn's appearance in the Raleigh Regional is its 21st postseason appearance in program history and its second straight, marking the first time the team has been to back-to-back NCAA Regionals since going to seven straight from 1997-2003.
  • The Tigers are 42-33 all-time in the NCAA Regional play, including a 1-0 record against Army (W, 12-3 at Tallahassee Regional in 2005) and 1-1 record vs. N.C. State (L, 12-3 at Stillwater Regional in 1993; W, 9-7 at Tallahassee Regional is 1999).
  • Auburn went 2-2 in the SEC Tournament last week, marking its best showing in Hoover in 15 years. The Tigers started 2-0 for the first time since 1999 and won two games for the first time since 2003.
  • The Tigers' 39 wins are the most in a season since 2010. Another win would give Coach Thompson his 100th in an Auburn uniform and would mark the 12th 40-win season in program history. Thompson would become the fourth coach in program history with 100+ wins in his first three seasons.
  • Auburn has set a new program record in hit-by-pitches (77) and has cracked the top-10 in program history in runs (420), home runs (66), walks (285), saves (16) and strikeouts (544).
  • The Tigers took two of three games from Northeastern in the first ever meeting between the two teams earlier this season. Casey Mize turned in the ninth no-hitter in program history and first since 2002 and struck out 13 batters in the series opener.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES

  • Northeastern enters the NCAA Tournament with a 36-19 overall record and went 17-6 in the Colonial Athletic Conference en route to winning the regular season. The Huskies advanced to the CAA Championship Game and forced a winner-take-all against host UNC Wilmington but ultimately fell to the Seahawks.
  • Offensively, Jake Farrell leads the way in all major offensive categories for a team that is hitting .274. The junior infielder turned in a .341 batting average with 15 doubles, seven triples, 11 home runs and 61 RBI. Teammate Charlie McConnell was named the CAA Player of the Year and ranks second in the country with 37 stolen bases.
  • On the mound, Northeastern has turned in a 4.69 staff ERA. Sophomore left-hander Sean Mellen leads the team with a 10-3 record and 2.28 ERA, while Andrew Misiaszek leads the way with 28 appearances and 12 saves.

RALEIGH REGIONAL FIELDNo. 1 N.C. State

  • Record: 40-16, 19-11 ACC
  • RPI: 20
  • All-time series: Tied, 1-1

No. 3 Northeastern

  • Record: 36-19, 17-6 CAA - regular season champions
  • RPI: 35
  • All-time series: Auburn, 2-1

No. 4 Army

  • Record: 35-22, 18-7 Patriot League - tournament champions
  • RPI: 83
  • All-time series: Auburn, 1-0