AUBURN, Ala. – No. 11 Auburn (20-8, 4-5 SEC) starts an eight-game homestand with a three-games series against No. 15 Arkansas (19-11, 4-5 SEC) Thursday through Saturday at Plainsman Park. First pitches this weekend are set for 6 p.m. CT Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.
“This is a tough stretch for us, so we’re glad to be home for an eight-game homestand,” head coach Butch Thomspn said. “There’s nobody I respect more than Dave Van Horn and what he’s done with his program. This will be really important for both teams to try to find success.
“We got off to a great start - a young team played great with a ton of great wins and starting pitching,” Thompson added. “Hopefully we can find a way to get hardened again and get settled through. We have to keep plugging, get back to playing good baseball and stick together.”
The games will be broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network and can be heard locally on Wings 94.3 FM. Thursday’s contest will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2, and the final two games of the series will be streamed digitally on SEC Network+.
A limited number of general admission single-game tickets remain available and can be purchased here.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Thursday – So. RHP Andreas Alvarez (4-1, 0.85) vs. Jr. RHP Gabe Gaeckle (3-2, 3.58)
Friday – So. LHP Jake Marciano (3-1, 1.30) vs. TBA
Saturday – TBA vs. TBA
QUICK HITTERS
This weekend marks Auburn’s third of nine straight series against ranked opponents.
The week marks the team’s second of the season against nothing but top-15 foes.
The Tigers are 4-6 against ranked opponents this season, including 2-2 at home.
Only four of the last 35 games of the season dating back to the first matchup vs. Georgia Tech on Mar. 17 are against unranked opponents.
Auburn is 13-4 at home this season and has won 12 of the last 13 regular season home series dating back to the final series of the 2024 season.
Andreas Alvarez will make his first weekend start Thursday. He leads the SEC and ranks fourth in the NCAA with a 0.85 ERA in 31.2 innings.
In weekend series, Auburn starting pitchers are 9-3 with a 2.45 ERA and .196 average against. They have struck out 148 and walked 23 in 114.0 innings pitched.
The Tigers trail the all-time series with Arkansas, 50-56, but are 26-22 against the Razorbacks at Plainsman Park.
The team is looking for its first series win matchup since 2017.
SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS
Arkansas enters the weekend with a 19-11 overall record and 4-5 mark in SEC play after getting swept by Florida last weekend and losing 15-14 in 10 innings at Missouri State on Tuesday.
Offensively, the Razorbacks are hitting .281 as a team with 219 runs on 284 hits, including 60 doubles, three triples, and 46 home runs. Junior infielder Camden Kozeal leads the team with a .336 average, 38 hits, and 37 RBI. Junior catcher Ryder Helfrick leads the team with nine homers while also stealing five bases.
On the mound, Arkansas has turned in a 4.02 staff ERA with 318 strikeouts and 98 walks in 260.0 innings. Left hander Hunter Dietz leads the team with 58 strikeouts in 34.1 innings pitched and carries a 4.19 ERA into the weekend.
PROMOTIONS & GIVEAWAYS
Thursday – Double Discount Diamond Deal Days - $1.25 hot dogs and $2.50 domestic brews
Friday – Pregame flyover; Pit Viper raffle
Saturday – Plainsman Plaza
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.
Plainsman Plaza, the new pregame block party that debuted prior to the middle game against Texas on Mar. 21, returns this Saturday.
- Located along Donahue Drive, the space features food trucks, live music and a DJ, inflatables for kids, videoboards for watching live games across the country, and more.
- Plainsman Plaza will open at 11 a.m. Saturday with the main seating area of the ballparking opening as usual at 12:30 p.m. In preparation for Plainsman Plaza’s opening, Donahue Drive from Heisman Drive to Samford Avenue will be shut down beginning at 6 a.m.
- With the closure of Donahue Drive, fans are encouraged to use the following routes to access parking
- Coliseum: Samford Drive to Biggio Drive
- Neville Arena: Wire Road to Heisman Drive or Donahue Drive north of the intersection with Heisman Drive
- Stadium Deck: Samford Avenue to Duncan Drive
- Fans should access Plainsman Plaza through the entry gates near the intersection of Heisman and Donahue Drives. The space will be considered part of the ballpark, and a game ticket is required for entry. Once inside, fans will not need to scan again for entry into the seating bowl. Similar to regular gamedays, fans will not be permitted to leave and re-enter.
Fans with general admission tickets are invited to visit the following links to familiarize themselves with the layout of some of our seating/standing-room-only areas.
- Plainsman Patio: Located down the first base line, this expanded space features seating, high-top tables, and a Fast Flight Grab-N-Go concessions market with an upgraded menu.
- War Eagle Wall: A one-of-a-kind, two-tiered standing-room-only viewing area in left field, accessible by stairs or ramp off the left field concourse.
- YETI Yard: YETI Yard (previously known as Tiger Terrace) includes three paved general admission terrace levels plus a large green space with enhanced concessions. Fans may bring tailgate chairs in this area only.