AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn (14-6-1, 0-3 SEC) begins its home Southeastern Conference schedule with a three-game series against Georgia (14-7, 0-3 SEC) Thursday through Saturday. First pitches at Plainsman Park are set for 6 p.m. CT Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.
Up Next:
vs. Georgia
Thursday-Saturday, Mar. 23-25, 2023
6 p.m. | 6 p.m. | 2 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network (Thu) | SEC Network+ (Fri/Sat)
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
"This is good, tough and hard like every year I've ever been a part of this league," head coach Butch Thompson said. "This team just needs to understand that, embrace it really. We overuse 'stay in the fight', that's kind of our deal, but you have to be in the ring and you have to throw some back. It's not just cover up and take punches. This league is built around your ability to throw punches back. That's what I want to see out of our ballclub."
All three games will be broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network and can be heard locally on 93.9 FM. Thursday's series opener will also be broadcast nationally on SEC Network. The final two games of the series will be streamed digitally on SEC Network+.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Thursday – Gr. LHP Tommy Vail (2-1, 2.55) vs. Fr. RHP Kolten Smith (1-0, 5.19)
Friday – TBA vs. Jr LHP Jaden Woods (3-0, 2.96)
Saturday – Fr. LHP Zach Crotchfelt (0-1, 4.87) vs. Jr. LHP Liam Sullivan (3-1, 2.28)
QUICK HITTERS
Auburn is 3-3 in SEC home openers under head coach Butch Thompson.
The Tigers have gone on to win all three of those series they have won the series opener.
The team is 4-0 in series openers at home this season, outscoring the opponent 27-11.
Auburn is 11-3-1 at home this year and has won 24 of its last 30 home games (24-5-1) dating back to the middle of last season.
Kason Howell is the NCAA active leader in career doubles (59). Howell is hitting .343 (12-for-35) with 11 runs, five doubles, three homers and seven RBI in the last eight games.
The team's win against South Alabama Tuesday was its fifth one-run game of the season. The Tigers are 4-1 in one-run games this year and 14-6 in one-run games since the beginning of 2022.
The Tigers are 181-169-4 all-time against the Bulldogs, including 86-64-4 at Plainsman Park.
In a series that dates back to 1896, Auburn has played more games against Georgia (354) than any other opponent in program history.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Georgia enters the second weekend of SEC play 14-7 overall and 0-3 in the league after being swept at home against South Carolina last weekend.
Offensively, the Bulldogs rank 15th in the country with a .323 batting average and are sixth in the nation with 45 home runs and 13th with 50 doubles.
Redshirt freshman Charlie Condon is second in the SEC and third in the country with a .500 average while also leading the team with nine homers and 36 RBI.
On the mound, Georgia is last in the league with a 5.82 staff ERA. However, the Bulldogs have struck out 232 batters in 181.0 innings, good for the 11th highest strikeout total in the country.
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Thursday: Navy tumbler giveaway.
Friday: All Auburn, All Orange t-shirt giveaway.
Saturday: Mini batting helmet with the purchase of Dippin' Dots down the first base line.
Saturday: Freshman trading card giveaway; postgame autograph session on the field.
Saturday: Philly Connection food truck in the outfield viewing plaza; food voucher for first 100 Auburn students.
Promotional items will not be distributed to any fans prior to gates opening.
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, Neville Arena lot and stadium parking deck.
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.