AUBURN, Ala. – No. 23 Auburn (24-13, 8-7 SEC) hosts No. 17 Ole Miss (26-12, 9-6 SEC) for a three game series from Thursday to Saturday at Plainsman Park. First pitch in games one and two is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and the series finale will begin at 1 p.m. CT.
This weekend's action can be heard locally on WTGZ-FM (93.9), online at AuburnTigers.com, or on a mobile device via the Auburn Athletics app. The gams will also be broadcast on SEC Network+.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Thursday – Fr. LHP Garrett Wade (3-0, 5.47) vs. Jr. RHP Will Ethridge (5-2, 1.76)
Friday – So. RHP Tanner Burns (4-1, 2.05) vs. Fr. LHP Doug Nikhazy (3-3, 3.57)
Saturday – Fr. LHP Brooks Fuller (2-1, 2.32) vs. Fr. RHP Gunnar Hoglund (1-1, 4.60)
QUICK HITTERS
Auburn is 16-5 at home this season and 45-11 at home since the start of last year.
The Tigers are 8-1 and have turned in a 1.58 ERA in series openers this season.
The team is 5-0 with a 0.80 ERA (4 ER in 45.0 IP) in series openers at home.
Auburn has posted a 1.92 ERA with a 3.18 K-BB ratio in games won this season.
The Tigers have turned in a 8.02 ERA and a 1.34 K-BB ratio in games lost.
Garrett Wade will make his first SEC start in the series opener.
Tanner Burns will make his 27th straight start in an Auburn uniform Friday. He has turned in a quality outing in 10 of his last 13 starts, and Auburn is 11-2 in those games.
Brooks Fuller leads the team and ranks 13th in the conference with a 2.49 ERA in SEC games. He is 1-1 with a 2.51 ERA in three SEC starts.
Cody Greenhill ranks tied for 14th in the country with eight saves, five of which have come on the road. He hasn't allowed a run in his last five appearances and 8.2 innings pitched.
SCOUTING THE REBELS
Ole Miss enters the weekend with a 26-12 overall record and is a game out of first place with a 9-6 mark in conference play.
Offensively, the Rebels rank fourth in the SEC with a .296 team average and are second in the league with a .298 clip in conference play. Senior Ryan Olenek leads the way with a .370 average, while sophomore Tyler Keenan has been the league's top run producer with 49 RBI. Five everyday Rebels are hitting over .300 this season.
On the mound, Ole Miss ranks eighth in the league with a 3.97 ERA and fourth with a 3.66 ERA in conference play. Junior Will Ethridge has been the team's top starter with a 5-2 record and 1.76 ERA. Austin Miller has been the most productive out of the bullpen with a 3-0 record and 1.60 ERA in 17 relief appearances.
SERIES HISTORY
Auburn trails Ole Miss in the all-time series that dates back to 1938, 86-89-1.
The Rebels swept the Tigers in Oxford, Miss., last season, before the two teams split a pair of games at the SEC Tournament.
Auburn is 49-35 against Ole Miss at home, and the Tigers have won each of the last four series at Plainsman Park.
PROMOTIONS
Thursday – Aubie the Tiger bobblehead giveaway (part three of five in collection)
Friday – Military plane jumpers
Saturday – Mini bat giveaway and postgame autographs
FYI
Gates open one hour prior to first pitch.
Fans attending baseball are advised to park in the Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum lot, the Stadium Parking Deck off Heisman Drive, or the Athletics Complex Parking Deck.
The Stadium Deck is also available for game viewing.
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.