Tennessee baseball is back in action at Lindsey Nelson Stadium this weekend where they’ll host Auburn in a three-game series.
The Vols have lost consecutive series and three of their last four while Auburn has won three of its last four series with its lone series loss coming against No. 1 Texas. Here’s how to watch this weekend’s three-game set and more details on the top 15 series.
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How to Watch: No. 12 Tennessee baseball (36-9, 13-8 SEC) vs. No. 10 Auburn (31-14, 11-10 SEC)
Game One (Friday)
First pitch time: 5:30 p.m. ET
Announcers: PxP: Andy Brock, CC: Cody Hawn
Stream: SEC Network+
Game Two (Saturday)
First pitch time: 6 p.m. ET
Announcers: PxP: Andy Brock, CC: Cody Hawn
Stream: SEC Network+
Game Three (Sunday)
First pitch time: 1 p.m. ET
Announcers: PxP: Andy Brock, CC: Cody Hawn
Stream: SEC Network+
Pitching Matchups
Game One:
Vols LHP Liam Doyle: 11 GS, 7-1, 2.23 ERA, 64.2 IP, 0.80 WHIP, 110 K, 20 BB
vs.
Tigers RHP Samuel Dutton: 11 GS, 5-2, 2.48 ERA, 61.2 IP, 1.11 WHIP, 73 K, 13 BB
Game Two:
Vols RHP Marcus Phillips: 11 GS, 3-3, 2.93 ERA, 55.1 IP, 1.14 WHIP, 68 K, 21 BB
vs.
Tigers RHP Cam Tilly: 1 GS, 2-1, 4.60 ERA, 29.1 IP, 1.09 WHIP, 39 K, 16 BB
Game Three:
Vols RHP AJ Russell: 4 GS, 0-0, 2.45 ERA, 7.1 IP, 0.95 WHIP, 9 K, 2 BB
vs.
TBD
What To Know About The Tigers
After a rough 2024 season, Auburn has bounced back this season and is back as one of the top handful of teams in the SEC. The Tigers lost just two games in the pre conference slate. UAB got them in a midweek game, and a second time last month, as well as one game in an Old Dominion series.
Auburn has won five of its seven SEC series to this point in the season but its conference record is just a game above .500 because the Tigers were swept in both series— at Georgia and at Texas. The Tigers have series wins over Alabama, Vanderbilt and a series sweep over LSU.
Auburn’s two best players from last season are back and are its best bats again. Cooper McMurray is hitting .337, nine home runs, 13 doubles and 40 RBIs. Ike Irish is hitting .329 with 11 home runs, 11 more extra-base hits and 37 RBIs. Four Tigers are hitting over .300 and four Tigers have four or more home runs.
On the mound, the Tigers rank 13th in the SEC in team-ERA. Carson Myers and Parker Carlson are Auburn’s top bullpen arms and have been good but not great this season.
Prediction
The calendar has turned to May and Tennessee is looking to rebound after a tough April. Things don’t get any easier as Auburn comes to Knoxville with a Tigers team that’s been competitive all season and is vying for NCAA Tournament hosting rights just like Tennessee.
Tennessee has struggled at home as of late but I’m betting on them to bounce back and get a big series lead.
Prediction: Tennessee wins two out of three
