AUBURN, Ala. – Winner of its last four series, No. 19 Auburn (30-19-1, 14-13 SEC) looks to continue its momentum with a three-game series against Missouri (30-20, 10-17 SEC) to finish out the regular season.
Up Next:
vs. Missouri
Thursday-Saturday, May 18-20, 2023
6 p.m. | 6 p.m. | 2 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network+
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
First pitches at Plainsman Park are scheduled for Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m. CT and Saturday at 2 p.m. A limited inventory of tickets remain available for Thursday's series opener.
"Prepare the best you can and get ready to fight for another series," head coach Butch Thompson said of the team's approach entering the final weekend of the regular season. "I think we're trying to get to the same mindset to compete again, and then we'll look up Sunday to see what's next for us."
All three games will be broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network and can be heard locally on 93.9 FM. The series will also be broadcast digitally on SEC Network+.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Thursday – So. RHP Chase Allsup (0-1, 7.24) vs. Sr. RHP Chandler Murphy (4-4, 5.54)
Friday – Gr. LHP Tommy Vail (5-1, 3.34) vs. Jr. LHP Javyn Pimental (1-0, 6.52)
Saturday – TBA vs. Fr. RHP Logan Lunceford (3-5, 5.71)
QUICK HITTERS
Auburn enters the weekend with a league best 9-3 record in the second half of SEC play and is the only team in the league to have won the last four series.
The team's five-game SEC winning streak marks the first by an Auburn team since 2011.
The last 12 SEC games mark the program's best 12-game stretch in league play since 2018.
The Tigers led the league with a .400 average and 37 runs on 50 hits last weekend.
The team's 50 hits were the most in a SEC series since also recording 50 hits at Kentucky in 1997.
All nine players collected at least three hits and scored at least two runs at Ole Miss last weekend.
Auburn's pitching staff has turned in a 3.29 ERA the last two weekends and ranks third in the SEC with a 4.71 ERA the last five weeks of SEC play.
Tommy Vail leads the SEC with a 1.26 ERA - four earned runs in 28.2 inning pitched - the last five weekends.
Auburn is 7-13 all-time vs. Missouri, including 3-7 against the visiting Tigers at Plainsman Park.
The Tigers won the series in Columbia in 2021, marking the first series win against Missouri.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Missouri enters the weekend with a 30-20 overall record and 10-17 mark in SEC play.
The Tigers are 5-1 in the last two SEC weekends with a series win vs. Ole Miss and sweep vs. Georgia. However, the team is 1-11 in league games on the road.
Offensively, Missouri is hitting .272 as a team and is led by fifth year infielder Luke Mann, who is hitting .326 with 20 home runs and 51 RBI. Junior outfielder Ross Lovich is the reigning SEC Co-Player of the Week after hitting for the cycle last week.
On the mound, the Tigers have turned in a 5.81 staff ERA with 458 strikeouts and 212 walks in 417.0 innings.
PREGAME FESTIVITIES
Auburn manager Jay Holley will be presented by the Hudson Family Foundation with the annual Scott Shockley Student Managerial Memorial Scholarship prior to Thursday's game.
Auburn graduates Ryan Dyal, Kason Howell, Bobby Peirce, Bryson Ware and Trenton Reynolds will be recognized during a pregame ceremony Friday beginning at approximately 5:40 p.m.
The Eagle will fly prior to Friday's game at approximately 5:57 p.m.
Auburn seniors Konner Copeland, Dyal, Josh Hall, Chase Isbell, Nate LaRue, Peirce, Reynolds and Ware will be recognized during a Senior Day ceremony Saturday at approximately 1:40 p.m.
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.