AUBURN, Ala. – No. 19 Auburn (30-12, 11-7 SEC) is set to square off in a top-20 matchup with No. 1 Tennessee (38-3, 17-1 SEC) in Knoxville this weekend.
Next Games:
at No. 1 Tennessee
Apr. 29-May 1, 2022
6 p.m. | 6 p.m. | 12 p.m. CT
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
First pitches in the three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium are scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. CT, Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 12 p.m.
"This will be a challenging week, but at the same time it's going to be an unbelievable opportunity for our program," head coach Butch Thompson said. "We've been tested. We don't think Tennessee is going to take a back seat to anyone. We have our work cut out for us."
All three game will be broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network and can be heard locally on 93.9 FM. Games one and two will air nationally on SEC Network and the series finale will be streamed on SEC Network+.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday – Jr. LHP Hayden Mullins (2-1, 3.55) vs. Fr. RHP Chase Burns (7-1, 2.12)
Saturday – Jr. RHP Trace Bright (2-4, 4.24) vs. So. RHP Blade Tidwell (1-0, 1.59)
Sunday – So. RHP Joseph Gonzalez (6-0, 1.71) vs. Fr. RHP Drew Beam (8-0, 1..86)
QUICK HITTERS
Auburn enters the weekend riding a seven-game winning streak and has won 12 of the last 15.
The seven-game winning streak is tied for the fifth longest current streak in the country.
The Tigers are 11-5 in games played away from Plainsman Park, including 7-4 in true road games.
The 11 wins away from home are tied for the most in the conference (Tennessee).
Auburn is 10-5 in its last five series, good for the second-best mark in the league during the span.
The Tigers are in the midst of the best 30-game conference stretch since 2010 with an 18-12 record in league play dating back to the final four series of 2021.
The team has won four of its last five road series during the 10-week stretch.
Auburn is 6-4 against ranked opponents this season, including 1-2 against No. 1.
Sonny DiChiara and Blake Rambusch have both reached base in 40 straight games.
The duo has collected 122 hits and scored 75 runs in their first 42 games in an Auburn uniform.
Auburn is 96-39 all-time against Tennessee, including 39-19 in Knoxville.
SCOUTING THE VOLUNTEERS
Tennessee enters the weekend with the best record in college baseball (38-3) and the best 18-game start in the history of the SEC (17-1).
The Volunteers lead the country in multiple categories on both sides including home runs (94), ERA (2.00) and WHIP (0.88).
Third baseman Trey Lipscomb leads the SEC in home runs (16) and RBI (61) and ranks top 10 nationally in both.
The Volunteers have three qualifying pitchers who rank in the top 10 in the league in ERA (Beam, Burns, Dollander).
UP NEXT
Auburn returns to the Plains for final next week before hosting No. 4 Arkansas (32-9, 12-6 SEC) for three games Friday-Sunday.