The Auburn Tigers look to get back in the win column tonight, as they travel to Birmingham to take on the UAB Blazers.
Both squads are coming in off series losses, as Auburn dropped two games in Gainesville against the No. 3 Florida Gators. The Blazers also dropped two games to UNC Charlotte.
Let's take a look at what the Tiger’s need to do to come out with a victory on the road tonight.
Limit runs out of the bullpen: Auburn has struggled giving up runs this season, especially out of the pen. The most recent occurrence happened just last game, as the Tigers gave up 14 runs between the fifth and eighth innings to Florida. We also saw this against Georgia when the Tigers gave up 16 runs in the eighth. Facing a weaker lineup than they saw in both of those games, the Tigers should be able to fine tune tonight and get multiple guys back on track.
Keep swinging the bats: Despite coming off a loss, Auburn should be more than ecstatic with 23 total runs put up against the third ranked team in the country. It was the most total runs the Gators have given up in a series this year. The Tigers are tied for first in the SEC with 64 doubles.
Put runners on for Bryson Ware and Ike Irish: Ware and Irish have been the constants for this Tigers lineup all year long. Irish leads the SEC and is second in the NCAA in doubles with 16 on the season, and is hitting for a .409 average. Ware is third in the SEC and tied for fifth in the NCAA in home runs with 14. The two have combined for 68 of Auburn’s 197 total RBI’s, so putting runners on for these two should make it easier for Auburn to light up the scoreboard.
Keep Logan Braunschweig off the bases: Braunschweig has been the best hitter for the Blazers this season, hitting at .373 average and a .479 on-base percentage. Braunschweig also leads the Blazers in stolen bases this season with seven on nine attempts. Braunschweig is definitely a guy Auburn will have circled on the lineup card tonight.
Konner Kopeland gives up less than three: The southpaw is in line to get the start tonight for the Tigers. Kopeland has come out of the pen in his last two appearances, giving up a total of five earned in one and two thirds innings pitched. Kopeland will look to recreate his start against Jacksonville State where he went five innings allowing just two hits and no runs. If Kopeland stays under three earned runs tonight, the Tigers bats should be able to keep them in comfortable distance against the Blazers.
First pitch in Birmingham is set for 6 P.M. CST. for this midweek matchup.
