AUBURN, Ala. – Starting a week that features a pair of top-three opponents, No. 4 Auburn (17-2, 3-0 SEC) hosts No. 3 Georgia Tech (17-3, 4-2 ACC) in the highest-ranked matchup in Plainsman Park history Tuesday at 4 p.m. CT.
“This is arguably the most high-profile week in the history of Plainsman Park, featuring three of the top four teams in the country for four games,” head coach Butch Thompson said. “It’s the reason guys come and play at Auburn, to be challenged and compete at the highest level. We always like to say ‘Iron sharpens iron,’ and that couldn’t be more true about this week. We’ll need the Auburn Family behind us to continue on the way we’ve been trending.”
The game will be broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network and can be heard locally on Wings 94.3 FM. It will also be broadcast digitally on SEC Network+.
A limited number of general admission single-game tickets remain available and can be purchased here.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Tuesday – So. RHP Andreas Alvarez (2-1, 1.37) vs. R-Fr. RHP Dimitri Angelakos (1-0, 1.38)
QUICK HITTERS
The matchup with Georgia Tech marks the highest-ranked matchup in Plainsman Park history.
The Tigers are off to a 17-2 or better start for the seventh time in program history, including the third time Butch Thompson.
Auburn enters the week riding a 10-game win streak, good for the third longest in the country.
The Tigers have outscored the opponent 89-17 during the streak, turning in a .320 average at the plate to go along with a 1.38 ERA on the mound.
The team hasn’t allowed more than four runs in a game during the streak and has held the opponent to two runs or less in seven of the 10 games.
The team is 11-2 at home this season and 39-10 at home the last two years.
The sweep at Missouri marked the first SEC-opening road sweep since 2010.
The pitching staff enters the week ranked in the top 10 in the country in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.76; 1st), walks allowed per 9.0 innings (2.06; 1st), ERA (2.33; 2nd), WHIP (0.97; 2nd), hits allowed per 9.0 innings (6.67; 9th), shutouts (3; 9th) and strikeouts per 9.0 innings (11.9; 10th)
Starting pitchers have turned in 5.0 or more innings in 16 of 19 games this season and are 11-1 with a 1.81 ERA and 141 strikeouts compared to 18 walks in 104.2 innings pitched this season.
Starters haven’t allowed more than one earned run in nine straight games.
Auburn leads the all-time series against Georgia Tech that dates back to 1897, 127-113-6, including a 68-46-2 mark at Plainsman Park.
The Tigers have won four straight matchups with the Yellow Jackets in the last two years.
SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
Led by first-year head coach James Ramsey, Georgia Tech enters the week with a 17-3 overall record and 4-2 mark through the first two weeks of ACC play.
Offensively, the Yellow Jackets lead the country in numerous offensive categories including batting average (.393), hits (280), runs (254), scoring (12.7) and on-base percentage (.511). Led by junior catcher Vahn Lackey in nearly every category, 10 qualified hitters are hitting .310 or higher, including four hitting .420 or better.
On the mound, Georgia Tech has turned in a 3.84 team ERA with 192 strikeouts and 74 walks in 164.0 innings pitched. Redshirt freshman right hander Dimitri Angelakos will make his third start and boasts a 1-0 record and 1.38 ERA.
PROMOTIONS & GIVEAWAYS
Half Price Diamond Deal Days - $1.25 hot dogs and $2.50 domestic brews for Tuesday’s matchup vs. Georgia Tech.
First 200 students to the outfield deck will receive a free Chick-fil-A sandwich.
‘Kiss me I’m an Auburn baseball fan’ sweatshirt giveaway.
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.
Specific to Tuesday with the men’s basketball NIT game, the Nevile Arena lot (3:30 p.m.) and top two levels of the stadium deck (5 p.m.) will be reserved for men’s basketball parking pass holders.