Auburn Set for Crucial Non-Conference Series Against Old Dominion

AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 20 Auburn Tigers baseball team (11-2) returns to Plainsman Park this weekend for a three-game non-conference series against Old Dominion (3-7) starting Friday at 6 p.m. CT. This series marks Auburn’s final non-conference matchup of the season, and head coach Butch Thompson is preparing his players for a strong challenge against a formidable pitching rotation.

“They’ve absolutely pitched it at a high level. That’s the biggest place we’ll have our work cut out for us,” Thompson said, highlighting Old Dominion’s impressive statistics, including a weekend rotation with an earned run average under 3.00. “We’ll see three left-handed starters. They have almost 20 more strikeouts than innings pitched, which is significant.”

The series will broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network, with local coverage on Wings 94.3 FM for Friday and Sunday games, and ESPN 106.7 for Saturday’s contest. Additionally, all games will stream on SEC Network+.

Here’s a look at the probable pitching matchups for the series: Friday features senior right-hander Samuel Dutton (2-1, 0.56) facing junior lefty Ben Moore (0-0, 3.55); Saturday sees junior lefty Cade Fisher (0-0, 5.40) go up against junior lefty Dylan Brown (1-0, 0.00); and Sunday has freshman right-hander Christian Chatterton (1-0, 3.68) squaring off against senior lefty Blake Morgan (1-0, 5.19).

Auburn’s non-conference record has been impressive, standing at 30-6 since the beginning of last season, with a current home record of 8-1, outscoring opponents 79-32 this season. The team also boasts a batting average of .412 during its last four home games with a total of 13 or more hits in each match.

Freshman standout Efrain Morales has made a mark in his collegiate career with a .488 average, ranking second nationally among freshmen. He has collected 20 hits in his first 12 games. Additionally, Cooper McMurray recorded his fifth career multi-homer game against UAB, bringing his total to 32 home runs and 121 RBI in 108 games at Auburn.

On the other hand, Old Dominion, led by former Auburn assistant coach Chris Finwood, looks to bounce back from a slow start this season. The Monarchs recently ended a three-game stretch with a 5-3 win over Middle Tennessee State. As a team, Old Dominion is hitting .232 with only 40 runs scored on 77 hits, struggling to match Auburn’s offensive output.

“Old Dominion has faced tough competition, but they have a solid pitching staff with standout Dylan Brown, who boasts a 0.0 ERA through his first 19 innings and 30 strikeouts,” Thompson said. “This will be a significant test for our lineup as we prepare to dive into SEC play.”

Sunday’s game will also serve as Aubie’s Kids Club Day, offering free admission and double points for Kids Club members. Fans should note that due to an overlap with men’s basketball, parking on Saturday prior to 4:30 p.m. will be limited. Event staff will assist fans with road closures and crosswalks leading up to game time.

Auburn is looking to leverage its home-field advantage to improve its already stellar non-conference record while Old Dominion aims to turn around its season with a series win against a tough opponent. The matchup is shaping up to be a closely contested series, with both teams eager to prove their abilities as they prepare for the challenges of conference play.