No. 16 Auburn Hosts South Alabama in Final Home Midweek

No. 16 Auburn Hosts South Alabama in Final Home MidweekNo. 16 Auburn Hosts South Alabama in Final Home Midweek

May 7, 2018

AUBURN (34-14, 13-11 SEC) vs. SOUTH ALABAMA (26-19, 14-9 SUN BELT)









AUBURN, Ala. ââ'¬" No. 16 Auburn (34-14, 13-11 SEC) takes on in-state foe South Alabama (26-19, 14-9 Sun Belt) in its final home midweek contest of the 2018 season. First pitch between the Tigers and Jaguars at Plainsman Park is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.

The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+ and can be found online at WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app. Fans can also find the broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network. You can listen on the radio on WTGZ-FM (93.9), online at AuburnTigers.com, or on a mobile device via the TuneIn app.

Probable Starters

  • Tuesday ââ'¬" Fr. LHP Jack Owen (2-2, 7.54) vs. Sr. RHP Will Eiland (1-0, 3.38)

QUICK HITTERS

  • Auburn is coming off its first sweep of Vanderbilt since 2002 and outscored the Commodores 29-6 in the three-game series.
  • Casey Mize was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week after matching an Auburn single-game record with 15 strikeouts. His 15 strikeouts were the most by a SEC pitcher in a league game since 2012.
  • The Tigers are hitting .321 as a team and are scoring 9.5 runs per game in the last 10.
  • Conor Davis is 12-for-20 with eight runs and 15 RBI in his last six starts.
  • Jay Estes went 8-for-11 (.727) with four runs and three RBI in the series vs. Vanderbilt.
  • Brendan Venter has homered in back-to-back games and is 8-for-17 (.471) in the last five.
  • Auburn has homered in five straight games and has nine home runs during the span.
  • The Auburn pitching staff posted a 33-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in the series and allowed just six earned runs over the three games (2.00 ERA).
  • The team is 21-3 in non-conference games this season, including 18-1 at home and 7-0 in midweek games on The Plains.
  • The Tigers have posted a 26-5 record and 2.81 ERA at Plainsman Park this season.

SCOUTING THE JAGUARS

  • South Alabama enters the midweek with a 26-19 overall record but has dropped six of its last eight games.
  • Offensively, the Jaguars are hitting .263 as a team, led by junior outfielder Dylan Hardy's .328 clip. Travis Swaggerty leads the team by a wide margin with 13 home runs, while Wells Davis and Brendan Donovan are neck-and-neck for the team lead with 43 and 42 RBI, respectively.
  • On the mound, South Alabama has turned in a 4.99 staff ERA. Senior right-hander Will Eiland will make the start, while Junior right-hander Zach Greene has been a key component out of the bullpen and has struck out 67 batters in 47.1 innings pitched.

SERIES HISTORY vs. SOUTH ALABAMA

  • South Alabama holds a 50-25 record in the in-state series that dates back to 1968, including a 20-13 advantage in games played at Plainsman Park.
  • The two teams met in Mobile earlier this season, and Auburn defeated the Jaguars, 7-6, thanks to the three-run home run from Luke Jarvis in the top of the eighth inning.

FYI

  • Gates open one hour prior to first pitch.
  • Plainsman Patio, a new gameday hospitality service inside the ballpark, is open and available on the concourse level down the right-field line. Stop by and see a hospitality service member for more information.
  • Fans are permitted to bring empty plastic bottles in for free water refills.
  • A cell phone charging station is available to fans near the front gate adjacent to the promotions booth.
  • Grass areas around the park and adjacent parking lots are open for tailgating.