AUBURN, Ala. – After clinching its spot in the SEC Tournament for the fourth straight season last weekend, Auburn will take on No. 11 Ole Miss in the first round of the SEC Tournament Tuesday.
First pitch from Hoover Met stadium is scheduled for approximately 8 p.m. CT, 30 minutes after the conclusion of the game before.
"I'm proud of our team, getting this opportunity to represent Auburn at the SEC Tournament," head coach Butch Thompson said. "Winning three of the last four weekends, from the very first weekend we've been chasing.
"They did good work there in those three of the last four weeks," Thompson added. "It's been fun to watch them fight and find themselves in a SEC Tournament with an opportunity to get a fourth win in a row, something our program hasn't done before."
The game will be broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network and will air nationally on SEC Network.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Tuesday – Sr. LHP Jack Owen (2-4, 4.84) vs. Jr. LHP Doug Nikhazy (8-2, 2.12 ERA)
QUICK HITTERS
Auburn's appearance in the SEC Tournament is its 28th all-time and its fourth straight.
The Tigers are 35-50 in the tournament and 4-6 in Hoover under head coach Butch Thompson.
Auburn has won a game in Hoover in three straight seasons (2017-19) and four straight trips to the tournament (2015, '17-19). The Tigers have never won a SEC Tournament game in four straight seasons.
Auburn was 3-16 in SEC play on Apr. 30 but won seven of its last 11 games and five of its last seven to clinch the No. 12 seed in Hoover.
Auburn's starting pitchers - Jack Owen, Richard Fitts and Trace Bright - didn't allow an earned run in 18.0 combined innings at Missouri. The trio struck out 16 and issued one walk.
Auburn led the SEC with 50 home runs in league play while ranking second in the conference and fifth in the country with 85 home runs overall this season.
The team's 85 home runs are tied for the fourth most in a season in program history.
Four players in Tyler Miller (16), Ryan Bliss (14), Steven Williams (13) and Rankin Woley (10) turned in double digit home runs, marking the sixth time in program history to do so.
Bliss was named Second Team All-SEC and to the SEC All-Defensive Team at shortstop.
He was the only player in the SEC to rank in the top five in average (.366), slugging (.664), runs (31), hits (48), doubles (9), home runs (10), RBI (30) and total bases (87) during conference play.
SCOUTING THE REBELS
Ole Miss enters postseason play ranked No. 11 in the country and with a 38-17 overall record, including an 18-12 mark in SEC play.
The Rebels took all three games from the Tigers in Oxford SEC opening weekend with two of the three loses being by one run.
Ole Miss ended the regular season second in the league with a .297 average overall and .289 clip in SEC play. The Rebels are led by freshman shortstop Jacob Gonzalez, who hit .349, and have six everyday players hitting .295 or better.
On the mound, Ole Miss turned in a 4.65 staff ERA, led by Tuesday starter Doug Nikhazy's 2.12 clip. Nikhazy struck out 107 batters in 72.1 innings this season.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
A clear bag policy is in effect for the SEC Tournament, and information on what fans can and cannot bring can be found here.
Tickets can be purchased here, and children ages two and under are admitted free.
Complimentary parking will be offered at Hoover Met Stadium on a first-come, first-served basis.
Face coverings are expected for non-vaccinated individuals when not seated.
Although there will be no Fan Fest activities in the Finley Center in 2021, a limited number of fan entertainment activities will be held outside the Finley Center throughout the week.
Tigers to take on Ole Miss in SEC Tournament opener
