AUBURN, Ala. – No. 19 Auburn (23-10, 7-5 SEC) hits the road for the third time in the first five week of conference play as the Tigers take on No. 12 Texas A&M (25-9-1, 7-4-1 SEC) in College Station, Texas, this weekend.
First pitch in the series opener at Blue Bell Park is scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT. Game two is slated for Saturday at 4 p.m., and the series will conclude Sunday at 1 p.m.
The series is available for streaming on SEC Network+. The action can be heard locally on WTGZ-FM (93.9) Friday and Sunday and WQSI-FM (95.9) Saturday, online at AuburnTigers.com, or on a mobile device via the Auburn Athletics app.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday -- So. RHP Tanner Burns (4-0, 1.76) vs. Jr. LHP John Doxakis (3-2, 2.05)
Saturday -- TBA vs. So. LHP Asa Lacy (6-0, 1.29)
Sunday – Fr. RHP Richard Fitts (2-1, 4.84) vs. TBA
QUICK HITTERS
Auburn is 8-0 in series openers this season and has allowed just 13 runs in those eight games.
The Tigers are 7-4 on the road this season, including 3-3 in SEC games. One more road win would match the team's total from a season ago (8-15). The Tigers haven't won more than 10 road contests in a season since 2010 (11).
The series opener will mark Auburn's 100th game since the start of last season. The Tigers are 66-33 (.667) during the span.
Tanner Burns is 7-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his last 12 starts dating back to last season. He has turned in nine quality starts during the span, and the team is 11-1 in those games.
Ryan Bliss, Conor Davis and Kason Howell are hitting a combined .312 in 11 road games this season. The trio has accounted for 23 runs, seven doubles, two home runs and 22 RBI on the road.
Richard Fitts will make his second straight SEC start Sunday. Fitts is 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA in three appearances away from home against SEC foes.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
Texas A&M enters the weekend with a 25-9-1 overall record and stands a half game back in the SEC West with a 7-4-1 mark in conference play.
On the mound, the Aggies ranks third in the SEC and 10th in the country with a 2.90 ERA. The team also ranks second in the country in strikeout per nine innings (11.3) and third in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.85).
Sophomore left-hander Asa Lacy is tied for the SEC lead and ranks tied for fourth in the country with 79 strikeouts. He also ranks 16th in the nation with a 1.29 ERA.
Offensively, Texas A&M is hitting .265 as a team and are led by Braden Shewmake's .331 clip. Shewmake leads the team with 48 hits, four triples and 32 RBI. He also is tied for the team lead with seven doubles and is tied for second with three home runs.
SERIES HISTORY
Auburn trails Texas A&M 8-11 in the series that dates back to 2013 and is 3-6 against the Aggies on the road.
The Tigers fell, 4-2, in the most recent matchup at the SEC Tournament last season.
Auburn took two of three at Plainsman Park in 2018, and the team is looking for its first series win in College Station since 2013.