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Auburn will close its weekend non-conference schedule with a three-game series against Arkansas-Little Rock at Plainsman Park.
Auburn is coming off of a 6-5 win over UAB on Wednesday and will be looking to keep the offence rolling in their first ever matchup with the Trojans, who have won four of their last five games to improve to 5-5 on the season.
The Tigers lead the nation in runs scored (121), is one of just three teams to have seven players with multiple home runs and ranks in the top 10 nationally in eight other offensive categories.
Leading the charge for Auburn has been junior Tyler Miller. The first baseman has been a revelation for the Tigers leading them in hits (18), home runs (3), RBI (18), and ranking top 5 in batting average, OPS, runs and slugging.
Miller admitted he got off to a slow start in 2020 but was unable to break out of the slump due to the season being cancelled. He said he settled in against Alabama A&M.
“Ever since then I’ve just been seeing it well, swinging at the right balls – swinging at strikes mainly, not balls – and when I swing at it, I’m not missing it,” Miller said. “Seeing ‘em fall is a lot better than not seeing ‘em fall.”
The offences hot start has been important as the Tigers will turn to their fourth different weekend rotation through four weeks.
The Tigers will get back one of their original weekend starters back in senior right-hander Cody Greenhill (1-0, 2.89), who is expected to be back in his role as the Friday night starter for the Tigers after missing last week with a foot injury.
However, they will be without Richard Fitts and Jack Owen. Fitts is battling the same injury as Greenhill and could return for the series with Ole Miss to open SEC play next weekend. Owen could also return for that series as well.
Auburn will instead turn to two righthanders in Mason Barnett (1-0, 0.84) and Trace Bright (2-0, 1.12).
Barnett will be making his third start and besides from walking eight batters has done a great job shutting down opposing offences. Allowing just two runs in 10.2 innings and has shown why he was the likely closer before injuries forced him to slide into a starting role.
Bright has also shined as a sophomore, allowing just three runs in 16 innings of work and striking out 13 batters to just three walks. He also had perhaps the best start of an Auburn pitcher against Texas A&M, throwing six shutout innings in their 6-1 victory.
The group will go up against a red-hot Little Rock offense that scored 19 runs in their last two games and is hitting .278 as a team. The offence is led by John Michael Russ who is hitting .500 on the year.
Little Rock is expected to send a trio of veterans to the mound in seniors Aaron Funk (0-1, 5.68) and Hayden Arnold (1-1, 8.49) and redshirt junior Jack DeCooman (0-1, 4.15).
Auburn games on Friday and Sunday’s will be on SECN+/ESPN+ and Saturday’s game will air on SEC Network while. Games will be 4 p.m. CT Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.