AUBURN, Ala. – No. 12 Auburn (19-2, 3-0 SEC) hits the road for the first time in Southeastern Conference play as the Tigers take on No. 4 Mississippi State (20-2, 2-1 SEC) in a three-game series at Dudy Noble Field.
First pitch between the Tigers and Bulldogs is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. CT. Game two is slated for Saturday at 2 p.m., and the series will conclude Sunday at 1 p.m.
All three games are available for streaming on SEC Network+. The games can also be heard locally on WTGZ-FM (93.9) or WQSI-FM (95.9), online at AuburnTigers.com, or on a mobile device via the Auburn Athletics app.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday – So. RHP Tanner Burns (3-0, 0.54) vs. R-Jr. LHP Ethan Small (2-0, 1.50)
Saturday – TBA vs. Fr. RHP JT Ginn (5-0, 2.59)
Sunday – TBA vs. R-Jr. RHP Keegan James (2-1, 2.89)
QUICK HITTERS
Auburn's 14-game winning streak is the second longest streak in the country and tied for the fifth longest streak in program history.
The Tigers have outscored their opponents 99-38 during the streak.
The team's 19 wins and .905 winning percentage are tied for fourth in the country this season.
Auburn's 19-2 start is tied with the 1999 and 2018 teams for the second best record through 21 games in program history.
The Tigers would become the third team in program history - joining the 1997 and 1999 teams - to start a season 20-2 with a win Friday.
The Tigers have won back-to-back series in Starkville for the first time since winning three straight road series against the Bulldogs from 1993-97.
Auburn and Mississippi State have each won 99 games since the start of the 2017 season.
The 99 wins since in the last two-plus seasons are tied for the fourth most in the conference.
Tanner Burns makes his 23rd straight start in an Auburn uniform this weekend.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Mississippi State comes in at 20-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play after winning its SEC opening series at Florida last weekend. The Bulldogs are one of three teams in the country to have hit the 20-win mark.
On the mound, Mississippi State has turned in the fifth best ERA in the country at 2.27. The Bulldogs have recorded 10 or more strikeouts in 19 of 22 games played this season. Mississippi State also ranks first in strikeouts per nine innings (11.9), second in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.60) and third in WHIP (0.99).
Offensively, State is in the top five in the country in hits (244) and doubles (58). Senior outfielder Jake Mangum leads the team in batting average (.406), runs (25), hits (39) and doubles (10). Mangum recently moved into the top 15 on the SEC's all-time hits leaderboard.
SERIES HISTORY
Auburn trails Mississippi State 92-107-1 in the series and is 34-57 on the road.
Auburn goes for three-straight series against Mississippi State for the first time since 2008-2010 and three consecutive series wins in Starkville for the first time since 1993-1997.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Head coach Butch Thompson served as an assistant coach/associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Mississippi State under current Director of Athletics John Cohen from 2009-2015.
Pitching coach Steve Smith began his coaching career at Mississippi State under SEC Legend Ron Polk from 1990-94.