CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Adjusting its schedule to take advantage of a break between rain showers, Auburn took batting practice early Friday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium on the eve of the Tigers' super regional against North Carolina.
As the grounds crew pulled the tarp back on the infield after practice, Auburn coach Butch Thompson spoke to his team, reiterating a message he's shared since taking over as head coach in 2016.
"Our words at Auburn baseball are attack, legacy, vision, from day one," Thompson said. "Attack with joy. Legacy from a point of loyalty, who we represent. A vision to finish. Those were the things we described in January. For them to all to be right here in hand here in June is pretty neat."
Auburn advanced to its second straight super regional by sweeping last week's Atlanta Regional, defeating Coastal Carolina once and No. 3 national seed Georgia Tech twice to earn an opportunity against the ACC Tournament champion Tar Heels.
"Probably our three best games that we've played this entire year," Thompson said. "Baseball works that way. It works in rhythms. It works in ebbs and flows. I can see it in our batting practice. I can see low line drives. I can see great energy flow. I can see our guys enjoying getting on the bus and coming to the ballpark. I think we're in a pretty good place as well."
A year ago, a super regional record 1.3 million viewers tuned in to ESPN to see the Tigers and Florida Gators battle in extra innings with a trip to Omaha on the line.
This year, Auburn will again benefit from national exposure with Saturday's 11 a.m. CT game on ESPN2 and Sunday's 10:30 a.m. CT on ESPN.
"I think it keeps building a program," Thompson said. "I can tell on my emails. I can see on the traffic of recruits. When people see us play a certain way that's inspired against great teams like we're going to get to do, it's another opportunity for us to showcase our program.
"It's just an amazing time for everybody to rally together. We've got a really nice following with Auburn baseball, but sometimes it just brings out the bigger, broader national brand of Auburn fans that specifically get involved in our program this time of year."
Two wins away the College World Series, the Tigers gathered in a meeting room at their hotel Friday evening for a team dinner and meeting. On Saturday, they're heading to the ballpark at 8:15 a.m. CT.
"I think the boys are hungry," pitcher Elliott Anderson said. "We've had this common goal set as a team early in the year. It's time to go."
"We're all just hot at the right time," Auburn shortstop Will Holland said. "We have a lot of impact players on this team who can hit a homer whenever the situation calls for. We have some guys who have stepped up pitching wise. We're going to need everyone as a group to step up and compete for this team."
PROBABLE STARTERS
Saturday – So. LHP Jack Owen (4-2, 2.45) vs. Jr. RHP Tyler Baum (7-3, 3.95)
Sunday – R-So. LHP Bailey Horn (4-0, 6.10) vs. Jr. RHP Austin Bergner (6-1, 5.21)
Monday – TBA vs. TBA
QUICK HITTERS
Auburn is making its second straight super regional appearance and third in program history.
The Tigers are coming off back-to-back regional championships for the first time in program history and have outscored the opponents 66-25 in the last two regional rounds.
Auburn is one of five schools - joining Arkansas, North Carolina, Texas Tech and Vanderbilt - to sweep each of the last two regionals, and the Tigers are the only team to do it on the road twice.
The team's six-game regional winning streak matches a program record from 1994-95.
The Tigers won the first super regional game in program history by defeating Florida in walk-off fashion, 3-2, and forcing a winner-take-all game three in Gainesville a season ago.
Auburn has won 36+ games in three straight seasons for the first time since 1999-2001. The team's 116 wins in the last three seasons are the most since winning 124 during the same time frame.
SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS
North Carolina enters the weekend with a 45-17 overall record after sweeping through the Chapel Hill Regional. The Tar Heels have won their last seven games, capturing the ACC Tournament title and regional title.
Offensively, the Tar Heels are hitting .273 as a team and lead the country in walks (388). Freshman Aaron Sabato's paces the club with a .341 clip and leads the team in hits (74), doubles (23), home runs (16), RBI (58), total bases (147) and on-base percentage (.452). He was named the Co-National Freshman of the Year by Collegiate Baseball.
On the mound, North Carolina has turned in a staff ERA of 4.14. Junior Tyler Baum paces the staff with a 7-3 record and 3.95 ERA. Baum was drafted by the Athletics in the second round of the MLB Draft this week.
SERIES HISTORY
The Tigers are 7-1-1 all-time against North Carolina, including 3-0 in Chapel Hill.
This weekend will mark the first meeting between the two teams since 2003 and the second meeting in the NCAA Tournament. North Carolina defeating Auburn, 3-2, in the 1978 South Regional.
"It's time to go."
— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) June 7, 2019
In their own words.... @Will_Holland2 @3strikes_AU & @RealEA14 preview @AuburnBaseball Super Regional at @DiamondHeels on the @NCAACWS #RoadToOmaha
📷: @AuburnPix / @catwoffordphoto pic.twitter.com/hPmjGXdNTg
"A vision to finish."
— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) June 7, 2019
🗣@3strikes_AU @AuburnBaseball moved up Friday's practice to avoid rain. Tigers took batting practice in Chapel Hill.
Game one vs. @DiamondHeels Saturday at 11 a.m. CT#RoadToOmaha pic.twitter.com/a4nabqTtjW
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer