Auburn kicks off four-game road trip at Jacksonville State

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Meredith Kramer/Auburn Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – No. 21 Auburn (26-14, 10-8 SEC) begins its second straight week of four games in five days with a midweek contest at Jacksonville State (21-17, 12-6 OVC) Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT.

Tuesday's action can be heard locally on WTGZ-FM (93.9), online at AuburnTigers.com, or on a mobile device via the Auburn Athletics app. The game will also be available for streaming on ESPN+.

PROBABLE STARTERS

Tuesday – Jr. RHP Ryan Watson (0-1, 5.48) vs. R-Fr. RHP Trey Fortner (2-5, 5.40)

QUICK HITTERS

Auburn is hitting .301 and scoring 7.4 runs per game in midweek action this season.

The Tigers are 8-7 on the road, matching the team's road win total from a season ago.

Ryan Watson is scheduled to make his first start of the season Tuesday. Watson has posted a 3.38 ERA and has struck out 15 batters in his last seven appearances and 10.2 innings pitched.

Conor Davis has accounted for three of the team's last five home runs - all coming in the last six games. His three home runs in the span are as many as he hit in his first 111 career games.

Ryan Bliss is hitting .341 with a .420 on-base percentage in the last 12 games. He has turned in five multi-hit efforts during the span.

Rankin Woley matched a season high with three hits last Tuesday vs. Georgia Tech and leads the team with a .382 average in midweek games.

Judd Ward leads the team with a .342 average and four doubles in the last 10 games.

Kason Howell has reached base in a season-high 17 straight games.

SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS

Jacksonville State enters the weekend with a 21-17 overall record and is tied for first in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 12-6 record.

The Gamecocks have won four straight weekend series and are 10-3 in the last 13 games.

Offensively, Jacksonville State is hitting .267 as a team and is led by Nic Gaddis' .343 clips and eight home runs. Alex Webb is also hitting north of the .300 mark with a .304 batting average.

On the mound, the Gamecocks have turned in a 4.55 ERA. Christian Edwards leads the team with 18 appearances and seven saves. He has posted a 3.10 ERA.

SERIES HISTORY

Auburn holds a 21-17 advantage in the series versus Jacksonville State, and the team is 3-2 on the road against the Gamecocks.

Auburn and Jacksonville State did not play from 1994-2009. The Tigers hold a 6-5 advantage in the series since the renewal in 2010.