AUBURN, Ala. - No. 15 Auburn returns to the friendly confines of Plainsman Park with a three-game series with Cincinnati beginning Friday at 6 p.m. CT. The series with the Bearcats begins the team's second stretch of eight games in 10 days.
All three games are available for streaming on SEC Network+, and can be heard locally on WTGZ-FM (93.9) or WQSI-FM (95.9), online at AuburnTigers.com, or on a mobile device via the Auburn Athletics app.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday – So. RHP Tanner Burns (1-0, 1.69) vs. Sr. RHP AJ Kullman (0-1, 10.80)
Saturday – So. LHP Jack Owen (1-0, 0.00) vs. Jr. RHP Nathan Kroger (0-0, 2.53)
Sunday – TBA vs. So. LHP Garrett Schoenle (1-0, 2.00)
QUICK HITTERS
Auburn has won 12 straight non-conference series dating back to the season-opening series in 2016.
The Tigers are 46-14 in non-conference play, including 25-6 against non-conference foes on the weekend, since the start of the 2017 season.
Auburn is 5-1 at Plainsman Park this season and 34-7 at home since the start of 2018.
The Tigers didn't hit a traditional home run until the fifth game of the season. The team has hit seven home runs in the last four games, including three vs. Alabama A&M (Feb. 19) and three in the series opener at UCF (Feb. 22).
Tanner Burns makes his second straight Friday start this weekend. Burns hasn't allowed more than a run in his last three starts dating back to last season (1.62 ERA).
Jack Owen will make his first career start in a weekend series Saturday. Owen hasn't allowed an earned run and has 12 strikeouts in 9.0 innings of relief this season.
This weekend marks the first series between Auburn and Cincinnati. Auburn is 2-0 all-time against the Bearcats, but the two teams haven't met since 1971.
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Head coach Scott Googins is in his second season at Cincinnati and 14th overall as a head coach with a career record of 370-391.
The Bearcats enter the weekend 1-6 after dropping a weekend series at Houston Baptist, and suffering a 7-1 defeat against Indiana in the midweek.
Joey Weimer paces the Bearcats with a .393 average, two runs scored, a double and a .429 slugging percentage. Former Auburn letterman Jeremy Johnson is hitting .321 with a homerun, two RBI and two runs scored.
Cincinnati is currently tied for third in the country with 10 double plays on the season. The Bearcats finished second last year with 71 twin-killings.
Collectively, the Cincinnati pitching staff has a 5.43 ERA. Sunday starter Garrett Schoenle is allowing just a .192 average against him so far this season.
SERIES HISTORY
This weekend marks the first series between Auburn and Cincinnati. The two teams previously met in 1921 and in 1971 with Auburn emerging victorious on both occasions.
FYI
Gates open one hour prior to first pitch.
Fans attending baseball are advised to park in the Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum lot, the Stadium Parking Deck off Heisman Drive, or the Athletics Complex Parking Deck. Fans should note that the Auburn Arena lot will close at 12 p.m. Saturday for men's basketball.
Several roads downtown will be closed at 1 p.m. Saturday for the Mardi Gras Parade. Fans traveling to campus are advised to avoid the downtown area. Portions of College St, Magnolia Ave., Thach Ave., and Gay St. will be closed Saturday afternoon.
The Stadium Parking Deck is also available for game viewing. If there is a conflict with a men's basketball game, fans can park on the bottom two levels of the deck.
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.