AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn beings the 2022 season by taking on Oklahoma, No. 12 Texas Tech and Kansas State at the high-profile State Farm College Baseball Showdown in Arlington, Texas, Friday through Sunday.
The second annual State Farm College Baseball Showdown takes place at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers and site of the 2020 MLB World Series.
"We've been preparing for this for a while. When you get to play in a venue like we're going to play in against opponents like we're going to compete against, I think it's absolutely helped our preparation to get ready for the season," head coach Butch Thompson said. "It's also going to give us an opportunity to learn a great deal about our team."
Auburn's first pitches are set for Friday at 11 a.m. CT against Okahoma, Saturday at 3 p.m. against Texas Tech and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. against Kansas State. The Tigers will be the visiting team against the Sooners and Wildcats and the home team against the Red Raiders.
"From a simplistic standpoint as a head coach, I just want us to try to go out and out-compete our opponents for three games," Thompson added. "I like that we're playing three different teams to give us an opportunity to focus on that."
All three contests will be broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network. Streaming services are also available through flobaseball.tv.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday – Gr. LHP Tommy Sheehan (0-0, 0.00) vs. So. LHP Jake Bennett (0-0, 0.00)
Saturday – TBA vs. Jr. RHP Brandon Birdsell (0-0, 0.00)
Sunday – Jr. RHP Trace Bright vs. So. RHP Christian Reubeck (0-0, 0.00)
QUICK HITTERS
Opening weekend marks the first time Auburn has begun a season on the road since 2014 and is just the second time since 2000.
Auburn is 6-0 in season openers under Butch Thompson and has won 11 straight overall.
The Tigers are 1-5 all-time against Oklahoma and have never played Texas Tech or Kansas State.
Oklahoma represents Auburn's first Power 5 Opening Day opponent since 2012 (Missouri).
The 2022 season marks the seventh under head coach Butch Thompson, who has led the Tigers to a 179-142 overall record in his six seasons at the helm.
Auburn's 2022 roster consists of 21 returners and 19 newcomers, including seven freshmen and 12 transfers (six four-year, six JUCO).
Graduate transfer Tommy Sheehan becomes Auburn's first newcomer to earn an Opening Day start since 2004 (Mike Felix).
Sheehan earned three Opening Day starts at Notre Dame from 2019-21. He is 1-1 with a 1.32 ERA in his three previous Opening Day starts.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
TEXAS TECH
Texas Tech enters the season ranked as high as No. 12 by USA Today after finishing the 2021 season with an overall record of 39-17 and a Super Regional appearance for the sixth time since 2014.
Offensively, the Red Raiders return consensus All-American and 2021 Big 12 Player of the Year Jace Jung, who hit .337 with 21 home runs and 67 RBI as a redshirt freshman a season ago. Jung has been tabbed a consensus Preseason All-American and is picked to repeat as the Big 12 Player of the Year.
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma posted a 27-28 overall record and went 11-13 in Big 12 play a year ago.
At the plate, the Sooners return junior catcher Jimmy Crooks, who led the team in runs and ranked top three in nearly every offensive category in 2021.
KANSAS STATE
Kansas State turned in a 34-23 overall record last year and made an appearance in the Big 12 Championship semifinals before narrowly missing the NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats welcome back junior outfielder Dylan Phillips, who hit .333 with 16 home runs and 58 RBI in 2021 and has been named Preseason All-Big 12 and a Collegiate Baseball Preseason Third Team All-American.
TICKETS AND GAME INFORMATION
Single day tickets and weekend passes for the State Farm College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field are on sale at texasrangers.com/collegebaseball.
Globe Life Field gates will open at 10:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Auburn opens 2022 season at State Farm Showdown
