Auburn Hosts Vanderbilt to Begin Final Stretch of SEC Play

Auburn Hosts Vanderbilt to Begin Final Stretch of SEC PlayAuburn Hosts Vanderbilt to Begin Final Stretch of SEC Play

May 3, 2018

AUBURN (31-14, 10-11 SEC) vs. VANDERBILT (25-19, 11-10 SEC)









AUBURN, Ala. ââ'¬" No. 20 Auburn (31-14, 10-11 SEC) begins its final three weekends of Southeastern Conference play with a three-game series vs. No. 17 Vanderbilt (25-19, 11-10 SEC). Friday's series opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be followed by game two Saturday at 2 p.m. and the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m.

All three games will be broadcast on SEC Network+ and can be found online at WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app. Fans can also find the broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network. You can listen on the radio on WTGZ-FM (93.9), online at AuburnTigers.com, or on a mobile device via the TuneIn app.

Probable Starters

  • Friday ââ'¬" Jr. RHP Casey Mize (8-2, 2.40) vs. So. RHP Drake Fellows (4-3, 3.62)
  • Saturday ââ'¬" Fr. RHP Tanner Burns (3-4, 2.62) vs. Jr. RHP Patrick Raby (3-4, 2.41)
  • Sunday ââ'¬" TBA vs. Fr. RHP Mason Hickman (7-1, 3.78)

QUICK HITTERS

  • Auburn has scored 62 runs and is hitting .358 in its last five SEC wins.
  • Edouard Julien has eight home runs and 27 RBI in the last 20 games. He leads all freshmen nationally with 46 RBI and ranks tied for third among freshmen with 11 home runs.
  • Steven Williams leads the team with a .429 average (15-for-35) in the last 10 games.
  • Luke Jarvis is riding a seven-game hitting streak and is hitting .385 (10-for-26) during the span.
  • Casey Mize and Tanner Burns have posted a combined 2.49 ERA with 163 strikeouts in 130.0 innings pitched and are holding opponents to a .185 batting average against this season.
  • Burns and Cody Greenhill have combined to go the distance in each of their last three SEC appearances. The freshman duo is 3-0 with a 3.33 ERA in wins vs. Mississippi State, at Alabama and at No. 1 Florida.
  • With three weeks remaining in the regular season, Auburn is 10-11 in SEC play. The Tigers, who are No. 6 in the RPI, are just two games out of second in the West and three games out of first.

SCOUTING THE COMMODORES

  • Vanderbilt enters the weekend with a 25-19 overall record and 11-10 mark in conference play. After taking two of three games from Ole Miss, the Commodores have dropped each of the last two conference series at Missouri and vs. South Carolina.
  • Offensively, Vanderbilt is hitting .264 on the year and .249 in conference play, which ranks just ahead of Auburn for 10th in the league. Austin Martin leads the team with a .342 average, while Ethan Paul is the team's top power threat with eight home runs and 37 RBI.
  • On the mound, Vanderbilt holds a 3.87 ERA and has turned in a 4.53 team ERA in SEC play. All three members of the Commodores' weekend rotation have an ERA under 3.80.

SERIES HISTORY vs. VANDERBILT

  • Auburn holds a 93-60 advantage in the all-time series vs. Vanderbilt that dates back to 1912.
  • The Tigers are 51-22 in games played in Auburn but have dropped eight of the last nine against the Commodores at Plainsman Park.

FYI

  • Gates open one hour prior to first pitch.
  • Postgame fireworks will be on display after Friday's game.
  • Graduation ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday. Please allow plenty of time for parking. The Auburn Arena lot will not be open to baseball parking.
  • Plainsman Patio, a new gameday hospitality service inside the ballpark, is open and available on the concourse level down the right-field line. Stop by and see a hospitality service member for more information.
  • Fans are permitted to bring empty plastic bottles in for free water refills.
  • A cell phone charging station is available to fans near the front gate adjacent to the promotions booth.
  • Grass areas around the park and adjacent parking lots are open for tailgating.