AUBURN, Ala. – Coming off its first road trip of the season at the Jax College Baseball Classic, No. 14 Auburn kicks off a nine-game homestand over the next 13 days with a midweek matchup vs. Samford Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT at Plainsman Park.
Up Next:
Samford
Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024
6 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network+
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
"With our players, we're not talking about the competition," head coach Butch Thompson said. "We are playing the toughest schedule in our conference, which probably means we're playing one of the toughest if not the toughest schedule in America, so we don't have to talk about that all year long. Every one of these teams presents a challenge, and this schedule is going to be tough.
"We're going to have to bring it every day. We're going to have to be invested to play a good brand of baseball every day because this schedule just breeds it week in and week out," Thompson added.
The game will be broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network and can be heard locally on 94.3 FM. The contest will also be streamed digitally on SEC Network+.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Tuesday – Jr. RHP Conner McBride (0-0, 2.45) vs. Fr. RHP John Malone (0-0, 2.25)
QUICK HITTERS
Auburn started the season on a six-game win streak, marking the team's second longest season-opening win streak since 2001.
The team is 4-0 at home this season and has outscored the opponents 39-10.
Auburn has homered in seven straight games to start the season, marking the longest streak to open a season since also homering in seven straight games to begin the 2016 season.
The Tigers rank second in the SEC and fourth in the country with 65 walks through seven games, including four games with 10 or more walks.
The team is third in the league and 14th in the country with 18 stolen bases, a mark they didn't achieve until Apr. 2 of last season (28 games).
Five players in Deric Fabian, Cooper McMurray, Mason Maners, Christian Hall and Bobby Peirce hit .300 or better in Jacksonville last weekend, also combining for six homers and 20 RBI.
Auburn holds a 77-25-1 advantage in the all-time series with Samford, including a 47-13-1 record against the Bulldogs at Plainsman Park.
The Tigers have won six of nine meetings with the Bulldogs under head coach Butch Thompson.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Samford enters the week with a 4-3 record but dropped all three games last weekend at UCF. The Bulldogs secured run-rule wins in each of its first three games and won its first midweek vs. Jacksonville State 7-3.
Offensively, the Bulldogs are hitting .267 as a team, led by senior infielder John Anderson's .500 clip. Junior infielder Garrett Staton leads the team with three home runs and 12 RBI.
On the mound, Samford has surrendered 7.3 runs per game with 57 strikeouts and 35 walks. Freshman righty John Malone is scheduled to make his third appearance, including his second start.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
New for 2024, gates open 90 minutes prior to first pitch.
- Fans must enter Plainsman Park via the main gates located behind home plate or Tiger Terrace.
- The gate located off Donahue Drive near the right field foul pole is closed due to construction.
- Those with a reserved ticket or add-on access to the Hall of Fame Club may enter via the exterior glass door located off Donahue Drive.
Fans are encouraged to park in the athletics complex parking deck, coliseum lot, Neville Arena lot and stadium parking deck.
- For 2024, Donahue Drive from the Josh Donaldson Hitting Lab to the Tiger Walk corner of Donahue and Heisman Drive will be shut down from two hours before first pitch through the middle of the first inning and from the top of the seventh inning until the stadium has been cleared of fans.
Student seating inside Plainsman Park is in section 111 and Tiger Terrance on a first-come, first-served basis. Students can also access the new Back Forty Deck sponsored by Outdoor Alabama on a first-come, first-served basis via the walkway between the Josh Donaldson Hitting Lab and South Donahue Dorms.
For 2024, several concession locations have changed due to construction.
- There will be no concessions available along the first base side of the ballpark, including Curveball Café and the food vendors located at Plainsman Patio.
- Ben's Soft Pretzels has moved to the exterior concourse next to the ADA ramp on the third base side of the ballpark.
- The Sweet Treats stand previously located at Plainsman Patio is now located at the main entry gate next to the ticket booth.
- The Chick-fil-A stand previously located next at Plainsman Patio is now located in the former promotions booth on the exterior concourse. Chick-fil-A is available for all home games, excluding Sundays.
For all Auburn baseball gameday information, click here.