AUBURN, Ala. – Riding its momentum to start the second half of Southeastern Conference play, Auburn (25-18-1, 9-12 SEC) hosts No. 1 LSU (36-8, 15-5 SEC) for three games Friday through Sunday.
Up Next:
vs. No. 1 LSU
Friday-Sunday, May 5-7, 2023
6 p.m. / 8 p.m. / 1 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network+ (Fri/Sun) / SEC Network (Sat)
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
"We get the No. 1 team in the country at home, but we need it. We need it to build a resume. We need it to see how good we are. We need it to see if we can get back in the hunt and be competitive in this great league," head coach Butch Thompson said. "We'll embrace it once again. What a great measuring stick for us. It's going to be an exciting weekend of college baseball that's right here at Plainsman Park."
First pitches at Plainsman Park are scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. CT, Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. A postgame firework display will occur Friday. Prior to Saturday's game, Independence, the bald eagle, will fly for the first time at Plainsman Park.
All three games will be broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network and can be heard locally on 93.9 FM. Friday and Sunday's contests will be streamed digitally on SEC Network+ and Saturday's game will air nationally on SEC Network.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday – So. RHP Chase Allsup (0-0, 7.52) vs. Jr. RHP Paul Skenes (8-1, 1.93)
Saturday – Gr. LHP Tommy Vail (4-1, 3.80) vs. Jr. RHP Ty Floyd (6-0, 4.68)
Sunday – R-Jr. RHP Christian Herberholz (0-3, 4.69) vs. Jr. RHP Christian Little (2-1, 4.50)
QUICK HITTERS
This weekend marks Auburn's fourth SEC series against a top-three team in the country, including its second straight and its first at home.
Auburn is one of two teams in the SEC with six players who have made 25 or more starts hitting .300 or better - Peirce (.373), Irish (.370), Ware (.347), Foster (.327), Stanfield (.311), McMurray (.306).
The Tigers have homered 17 times in the last six SEC games.
The team's 10 home runs at South Carolina were the most in a SEC series since 2010.
Bobby Peirce led the SEC with 32 hits in April and ranked third with a .421 average for the month.
Cooper McMurray has seven home runs and 16 RBI in the last eight games.
Tommy Vail and Christian Herberholz have both made three straight SEC starts.
The duo has turned in a 1.52 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 29.2 innings during the span.
Auburn is 77-110 all-time against LSU, including 42-45 against the Tigers at Plainsman Park.
Last year's series win in Baton Rouge was the program's first road series win vs. LSU since 2011.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
LSU enters the weekend with a 36-8 overall record and 15-5 mark in SEC play, having won all seven of its conference series thus far.
The Tigers were ranked No. 1 coming into the year and have held on to the top spot throughout the 11 weeks.
Offensively, LSU leads the SEC and ranks 10th in the country with a .318 average. The Tigers are the nation's third-highest scoring team (10.0 runs per game) and rank second in college baseball in total runs (440).
Center fielder Dylan Crews leads the country with a .486 average and 73 runs, and third baseman Tommy White leads the nation with 73 RBI.
On the mound, the Tigers have turned in a 4.40 ERA and lead the country with eight shutouts. Friday night starter Paul Skenes leads the nation with 124 strikeouts and is sixth with a 1.93 ERA.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Gates open one hour prior to first pitch.
All transactions for concessions, merchandise and tickets will be contactless and cashless (credit/debit and Tiger Cards only).
In addition to the home plate concessions, Chick-fil-A will be available on the patio located down the first base line and in the Tiger Terrace down the left field line, excluding Sundays.
A pop-up Auburn Team Shop will be located inside the gates behind home plate.
Auburn Athletics will continue to provide digital tickets for the 2023 baseball season. Digital tickets help to increase convenience, flexibility and safety for fans on gamedays. Click here for more information on digital tickets.
BASEBALL PARKING AND SHUTTLE INFORMATION
Friday, May 5
- Gates open at 5 p.m.; first pitch vs. LSU at 6 p.m.
- Available parking lots: Ag Heritage Park Lot, South Donahue Hay Fields Lot, OIT Deck
- Limited parking lots (shared with commencement): Coliseum Lot, Stadium Deck
- The Chilled Water Plant Lot will be closed for the postgame fireworks display
- Tiger Transit shuttles will be running from the Ag Heritage Park Lot starting at 4:30 p.m. and will drop off adjacent to the main entrance of Plainsman Park
Saturday, May 6
- Gates open at 7 p.m.; first pitch vs. LSU at 8 p.m.
- Available parking lots: Ag Heritage Park Lot, Chilled Water Plant Lot, South Donahue Hay Field Lot, OIT Deck
- Limited parking lots (shared with commencement): Coliseum Lot, Stadium Deck
- Tiger Transit shuttles will be running from the Ag Heritage Park Lot starting at 6:30 p.m. and will drop off adjacent to the main entrance of Plainsman Park
ADDITIONAL PARKING INFORMATION
- RV parking for softball and baseball series and commencement is available in the South Donahue Hay Field Lot
Parking for softball and baseball series will return to normal for the Sunday series finales. Commencement ceremonies for the Colleges of Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine will also take place Monday, May 8, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively, at Neville Arena.