AUBURN, Ala. – No. 17 Auburn (14-6, 0-3 SEC) opens its Southeastern Conference home slate this weekend at Plainsman Park with a three-game series against No. 1 Arkansas (17-2, 3-0 SEC). First pitches are scheduled for Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m. CT and Saturday at 2 p.m.
Up Next:
No. 1 Arkansas
Thursday-Saturday, Mar. 21-23, 2024
TV: SEC Network (Thu) / SEC Network+ (Fri/Sat)
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
"This Arkansas team is so good, especially on the mound, but you can't duck and dive. You have to go right through them to have success," head coach Butch Thompson said. "Hopefully we're up for the challenge. We've been there before. I think a lot of our program and our club, so I want us to rise to the challenge."
The games will be broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network and can be heard locally on Wings 94.3 FM Thursday and Saturday and AU100 100.3 FM Friday. Thursday's game will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network, while games two and three will be streamed digitally on SEC Network+.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Thursday – Jr. RHP Conner McBride (3-0, 2.41) vs. Jr. LHP Hagen Smith (3-0, 1.57)
Friday – Jr. RHP Chase Allsup (1-1, 7.15) vs. Jr. RHP Brady Tygart (3-0, 0.73)
Saturday – R-Jr. RHP Joseph Gonzalez (2-1, 6.92) vs. Jr. LHP Mason Molina (3-0, 2.74)
QUICK HITTERS
Auburn is 4-3 in SEC home opening series under head coach Butch Thompson with five of the seven series coming against top-10 teams.
The Tigers are 10-2 at Plainsman Park this season and are outscoring the opponent 116-54.
The team has held the opponent to four or fewer runs in seven of 12 home games and has turned in a 3.63 ERA at Plainsman Park.
The pitching staff matched a season low with one run allowed Tuesday and turned in a season-best 13-1 strikeout-to-walk-ratio while throwing 72 percent strikes in the game.
Auburn has homered in 18 of 20 games this season, including all 12 home games.
The Tigers have homered multiple times in 10 of 12 home games, including eight straight.
After this weekend, Auburn will have played the No. 1 team in the country in five of the last six full seasons, including each of the last three at home.
The Tigers are 49-54 all-time against Arkansas, including 25-20 at Plainsman Park, and are looking for the first series win in the matchup since 2017.
SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS
Arkansas enters the weekend as the unanimous No. 1 team in the country. The Razorbacks have a 17-2 overall record and are coming off a sweep of Missouri to start SEC play last weekend.
Offensively, the Razorbacks are hitting .287 as a team with six players hitting .300 or better, led by Nolan Souza's .355 clip.
On the mound, Arkansas leads the country in multiple pitching categories including ERA (2.35), hits allowed per 9.0 innings (5.77), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.64), strikeouts per 9.0 innings (13.6) and WHIP (0.97).
PROMOTIONS
Thursday
- Powder blue tumbler giveaway
- Student food truck in the outfield
Friday
- Mini bat giveaway
- Friday Night Flights – pregame eagle flight
- Student food truck in the outfield
Saturday
- Freshman trading card giveaway
- Postgame autograph session on the field
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.