For the first time in program history, the Auburn baseball program is hosting a Super Regional in Plainsman Park. The Tigers will take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in a best-of-three series this weekend.
Auburn won the regional championship game against NC State with dominance, and the Tigers will be hoping to put on the same kind of performance on Friday night when first pitch is set for 8:00 p.m. Senior right-handed pitcher Samuel Dutton is set to get the starting nod for the Tigers, and he last pitched on Saturday in the win over Stetson.
Here is what the team had to say about the big weekend.
Head coach Butch Thompson on Coastal Carolina, per Auburn Undercover:
"They're a handful. The most wins, (in the country) and I guess the 21 games in a row. It's a real ball club. Hopefully, those 10 weeks of SEC prepared us. I don't want us to change. We have an identity, this is who we are. I think the biggest mistake, No. 1, you could make is try to be somebody else or tailor your game too much. It's important to know your opponent, but at the same time we can't go try to grab more this weekend."
Ike Irish on starting Dutton at pitcher, per Auburn Rivals:
“We know who Sam Dutton is and we know how he’s going to pitch and we’re confident playing behind him. Yeah, we’re just confident."
Dutton on being tapped to start in game one, per Auburn Undercover:
"I wanted it very badly. Earlier this week the coaches came up and asked me what I was thinking since I threw Saturday. There was no hesitation in my mind that I wanted the ball in game one. "
Cooper McMurray on playing in the Super Regional, per AL.com:
“I’m looking forward to a great weekend and competing against Coastal Carolina. They have a really good pitching staff and hopefully our guys are up for the challenge. We all really excited to get going.”