AUBURN, Ala. – No. 15 Auburn (22-7, 6-3 SEC) hosts No. 9 Arkansas (22-7, 6-3 SEC) in an important SEC West matchup at Plainsman Park this weekend.
The series opener is scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT. First pitch in game two is slated for Friday at 6 p.m., and the series will conclude Saturday at 2 p.m.
Thursday's game will be broadcast on national TV on ESPNU, while the final two games of the series are available for streaming on SEC Network+. All the action can 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
Thursday -- Fr. LHP Brooks Fuller (1-1, 2.08) vs. R-Jr. RHP Isaiah Campbell (6-0, 2.03)
Friday -- So. RHP Tanner Burns (4-0, 1.40) vs. Fr. RHP Connor Noland (0-1, 4.40)
Saturday -- TBA vs. TBA
QUICK HITTERS
Auburn is 15-2 at home this season and 44-8 at Plainsman Park since the start of last season.
The team's 14-game home winning streak was snapped Tuesday. It was tied for the third longest home winning streak in program history.
Auburn has outscored its opponents 110-46 at home this season. The team has turned in a 1.90 ERA and is holding opponents to a .200 batting average in its 17 contests at home.
Brooks Fuller will make his second straight SEC start Thursday. He's 1-1 with a 2.92 ERA in three conference appearances.
Tanner Burns is 2-0 with a 0.33 ERA in four starts at home this season. He has allowed one earned run in 27.2 innings pitched and has 41 strikeouts compared to three walks.
Edouard Julien has played in 91 career games and is two RBI shy of 100 for his career. He would join the following list as the fastest players in program history to reach 100 RBI.
1. Tim Hudson – 78 games
2. Gabe Gross – 86 games
3. Frank Thomas – 89 games
4. Todd Faulkner – 90 games
SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS
Arkansas enters the weekend at 22-7 overall and 6-3 in SEC play after dropping a series at home against Ole Miss and falling in midweek action against Little Rock.
Offensively, Arkansas is hitting .294 as a team and is led by Heston Kjerstad and Jack Kenley, who have both posted a .319 clip. Kenley leads the team in runs (28), triples (two), slugging percentage (.574) and walks (20).
On the mound, the Razorbacks have turned in a staff ERA of 3.65. Redshirt junior Isiah Campbell leads the team in innings pitched (44.1) and has turned in a 0.86 ERA over 21.0 innings in conference play.
SERIES HISTORY
Auburn leads Arkansas, 46-44, in the series dating back to 1992 and is 23-16 against the Razorbacks at Plainsman Park.
The Tigers were swept at Baum Stadium last season with two of the three contests being decided by one run.
Auburn beat Arkansas in two of three games at Plainsman Park in 2017 and outscored the Razorbacks, 29-15. The Tigers have won three of the last four home series in the matchup.
FYI
Gates open one hour prior to first pitch.
This weekend is Alumni Weekend. Auburn baseball alumni have the chance to participate in a golf outing at Moore's Mill Friday morning as well as a breakfast and pregame recognition Saturday.
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.