Birmingham, AL: The sixth-ranked Auburn Tigers are in the midst of their toughest stretch of the season, but there is no rest for the wicked or the nationally elite. Fresh off a hard-fought series loss at Texas A&M, the Tigers (32-14, 14-10 SEC) board the bus once again for a Tuesday night clash with the UAB Blazers (28-19) at Regions Field in Birmingham.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT, and while the venue is off-campus, the stakes are high for a Tigers squad looking to cement its status as a Super Regional favorite.
The “Natty” Rebound
Auburn heads to the Magic City looking to shake off the sting of a narrow 3-4 loss to the Aggies this past Sunday . However, despite that one-run setback in College Station, the Tigers are riding a wave of momentum that few teams in the country can match.
Auburn enters the week as the only team in the Southeastern Conference with five straight series wins . That level of consistency in the toughest baseball conference in America has turned heads nationally. Head Coach Butch Thompson’s club has proven they can beat anyone, and they intend to take that aggression out on the Blazers.
War EAGLE Offense: Power Surge in Progress
If you are an Auburn fan who loves the long ball, this is the team for you. After a slow start to the season in the home run department, the Tigers have transformed into a juggernaut.
According to the game notes, Auburn homered 30 times in their last 12 games, a pace that ranks second in the entire SEC during that span . Leading this charge is catcher Chase Fralick. The sophomore sensation just finished a historic stretch in which he homered in five consecutive games from April 24 to May 2 a feat no Auburn player had accomplished since Tim Lemons in 1985 .
Auburn currently boasts seven players hitting north of .300, creating a nightmare scenario for UAB pitching. This lineup depth is a significant reason why the Tigers are 23-2 when scoring six or more runs this season .
Pitching Preview: Graves Gets the Nod
Coach Thompson will turn to junior left-hander Griffin Graves (1-0, 7.94 ERA) to start on the mound . While his season ERA might look high on paper, Graves has a history of success against the Blazers. Last season, he tossed three scoreless innings against UAB, striking out three .
More importantly, Graves has the luxury of knowing his defense is historically elite.
Auburn’s pitching staff is currently the national leader in:
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Strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.09)
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WHIP (1.13)
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Walks allowed per 9 innings (2.62)
The Tigers rank second in the nation in ERA (3.36), and the numbers suggest a recent peak in form: Auburn has allowed more than five runs just once in the last 14 games .
Scouting the Enemy: UAB Blazers
Don’t let the “midweek” label fool you. The UAB Blazers are not a typical pushover. At 28-19 and sitting third in the American Athletic Conference, they possess a potent offense.
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The Power Bats: UAB leads the AAC in home runs with 67 this season, a total that ranks 40th in the entire NCAA .
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The Slugger: Keep an eye on John Paul “JP” Head. The Blazer outfielder leads the conference with 17 home runs and 47 RBI .
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The Note: UAB is coming off a rough weekend where they were swept by Rice, a series in which they gave up 28 runs in a doubleheader . They will be desperate to bounce back against their nationally ranked in-state rival.
The “Todd Clay” Narrative
Adding a layer of intrigue to this contest is the transfer portal. Auburn’s infield features Todd Clay, a senior who was named AAC Co-Newcomer of the Year at UAB last season. Clay has been a revelation for the Tigers, slashing .452 in fall ball and bringing an insider’s knowledge of the Blazers’ system .
Series History & How to Watch
The Tigers have historically dominated this in-state series, leading the all-time tally 57-12 . However, as anyone in Alabama knows, crosstown games can be unpredictable. Auburn won the first meeting this season back on March 10th by a staggering score of 17-2 tied for the largest margin of victory for the Tigers this year .
The Game Plan:
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Location: Regions Field, Birmingham, AL
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Time: Tuesday, 6:00 p.m. CT
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Watch: ESPN+ (Curt Bloom and Alan Dunn on the call)
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Listen: Varsity Sports Network / Wings 94.3 FM
The Tigers look to keep the bus rolling toward Omaha. War Eagle!
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