AUBURN, Ala. – No. 5 Auburn baseball opens its 2026 campaign with a three-game series against Youngstown State Friday through Sunday at Plainsman Park. First pitches are set for Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT, Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
“It’s time. It’s time to go out and play another team,” head coach Butch Thompson said. “Our preparation has been great. From where I stand as the head coach, this team has been as endearing and enjoyable as any I can remember. I’ve never enjoyed being on the field more with a team, and I’m ready to see where we’re at. I’m excited to start that journey and start playing somebody else.”
All three games will be broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network and can be heard locally on Wings 94.3 FM on Friday and Sunday and AU 100.3 FM Saturday. The games will also be broadcast digitally on SEC Network+.
A limited number of single-game tickets for all three games still remain and can be purchased here.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday – So. LHP Jake Marciano (0-0, 0.00) vs. Sr. LHP Braden Gebhardt (0-0, 0.00)
Saturday – So. LHP Jackson Sanders (0-0, 0.00) vs. Sr. RHP Jack Messmore (0-0, 0.00)
Sunday - R-So. RHP Alex Petrovic (0-0, 0.00) vs. R-Sr. RHP Brandon Mikos (0-0, 0.00)
QUICK HITTERS
Auburn begins its 77th season at Plainsman Park this weekend, marking the first ever meeting between the Tigers and Youngstown State.
The 2026 season marks the 11th for head coach Butch Thompson, who is the third longest-tenured head coach in program history and fourth longest-tenured head coach in the SEC.
The Tigers are 9-1 in season openers and 10-0 in home openers under Thompson.
Auburn enters the season a unanimous top-10 team in the preseason polls - No. 5 (Baseball America), No. 8 (NCBWA), No. 9 (D1 Baseball, Coaches) and No. 10 (Perfect Game).
The roster consists of 39 players, including 21 returners and 18 newcomers (9 freshmen, 9 transfers).
The quartet of Chase Fralick, Chris Rembert, Lucas Steele and Bub Terrell is the only returning quartet in the SEC to have each driven in 40 or more runs in 2025.
In the last four seasons, Auburn is a combined 122-27 (.819) when scoring six or more runs and 23-64 (.264) when scoring five or fewer runs.
Auburn went 28-8 at home in 2025, marking the most home wins since 2018 and tied for the fourth most in program history.
The team won all eight regular season home series in 2025, going a combined 19-5 in those games.
SCOUTING THE PENGUINS
Youngstown State begins its second season under head coach Trevor Charpie with a roster that consists of 38 players, including six true freshmen and 16 transfers.
Three Penguins were named to Perfect Game’s Preseason All-Conference Team, including infielder Misael Uriepero being named the Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Offensively in 2025, Youngstown State hit .279 as a team and scored 391 runs on 526 hits, including 110 doubles and 76 home runs. Senior outfielder Brayden Kuriger is a key returner in 2026, finishing last season with a .301 average, 18 extra-base hits and 43 RBI.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
For a one-stop show for all things surrounding an Auburn baseball game at Plainsman Park, visit the revamped Auburn baseball gameday page.
Notable for this weekend, parking will be limited due to the Parker McCollum concert going on at Neville Arena Friday night.
- Parking in the Neville Arena lot, coliseum lot and campus safety lot will be paid after 3:30 p.m. Passes can be purchased here.
- Parking in the athletics complex deck, stadium deck and Wire Road lot is free.