AUBURN, Ala. – No. 13 Auburn (6-1-1) continues its busiest stretch of the season with a three-game series against Lipscomb (5-3) this weekend.
Up Next:
Lipscomb
Mar. 3-5, 2023
6 p.m. | 4 p.m. | 1 p.m. CT
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
First pitches at Plainsman Park are scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. CT, Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Tiger Terrace tickets for all three games are available at aubtix.com.
"I'm just asking every player, every coach to be flexible and understand that a season has ebbs and flows," head coach Butch Thompson said. "Some of it is forced, some of it is putting together the best way we can line up this weekend, but all-in-all hopefully this flexibility can make us stronger down the road."
All three games will be broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network and can be heard locally on 93.9 FM Friday and Sunday and 95.9 FM Saturday. Friday and Sunday's contests will also be streamed on SEC Network+.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday – Jr. LHP Tanner Bauman (1-0, 4.26) vs. Jr. LHP Michael Dunkelberger (0-1, 7.45)
Saturday – R-Jr. RHP Christian Herberholz (0-0, 8.44) vs. 5Y RHP Ethan Small (0-0, 3.38)
Sunday – Fr. LHP Zach Crotchfelt (0-0, 7.36) vs. Gr. RHP Braydon Tucker (0-0, 4.09)
QUICK HITTERS
Auburn has scored 60 runs on 64 hits in the last five games, totaling double digit runs and hits in four of the five contests, and is hitting .383 while reaching base at a .502 clip during the span.
The Tigers have struck out only 23 times total in the last five games, including five or fewer times in four of the five contests and only three times on three occasions.
The team's .342 average is good for fourth in the SEC and 11th in the country.
Bryson Ware and Ike Irish rank first and second in the league and third and fourth in the country with batting averages of .577 and .576, respectively.
All six of Justin Kirby's hits this season have been home runs. His six homers in the first eight games of the season are the most by an Auburn player since at least 1993.
Auburn's three pitchers in this weekend's starting rotation are all newcomers, with two of the three making their first starts in an Auburn uniform - Bauman and Crotchfelt.
The Tigers are 4-2 all-time against Lipscomb, including 2-1 on the weekend and 2-1 in the midweek.
SCOUTING THE BISONS
Lipscomb enters the weekend with a 5-3 overall record and have won each of their first two weekend series against Notre Dame and Illinois-Chicago.
Offensively, the Bisons are hitting .230 and have relied largely on the long ball with 14 homers in the first eight games. Seven different players have homered and five have multiple homers.
On the mound, Lipscomb has turned in a 4.59 staff ERA with 79 strikeouts in 71.0 innings. The Bisons rank 16th in the country in hits allowed per 9.0 innings (6.59).
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Gates open one hour prior to first pitch.
Fans are encouraged to park in the athletics complex parking deck, coliseum lot and stadium parking deck this weekend. Parking in the Neville Arena lot will be limited Saturday due to the men's basketball game.
All transactions for concessions, merchandise and tickets will be contactless and cashless (credit/debit and Tiger Cards only).
In addition to the home plate concessions, Chick-fil-A will be available on the patio located down the first base line and in the Tiger Terrace down the left field line, excluding Sundays.
A pop-up Auburn Team Shop will be located inside the gates behind home plate.
Auburn Athletics will continue to provide digital tickets for the 2023 baseball season. Digital tickets help to increase convenience, flexibility and safety for fans on gamedays. Click here for more information on digital tickets.