| GAMES 11-13 | AUBURN |
| Dates |
Friday, Mar. 12 - Sunday, Mar. 14 |
| Times |
Friday, Mar. 12 - 4 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 13 - 2 p.m.
Sunday, Mar. 14 - 1Â p.m. |
| Location |
Auburn, Ala. |
| Field |
Plainsman Park |
| Records |
Little Rock (5-5, 0-0 SBC)
Auburn (8-4, 0-0 SEC) |
| Watch |
SEC Network/SEC Network +
Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| Listen |
AuburnTigers.com |
| Live Stats |
AuburnTigers.com |
| Notes |
Little Rock | Auburn |
LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock will head down to the Plains for a weekend series against Auburn in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Trojans and Tigers will play at Plainsman Park on Friday at 4 p.m., followed by a 2 p.m. first pitch on Saturday and a 1 p.m. first pitch Sunday. Friday and Sunday's games will be available on SEC Network + while Saturday's game will air on the SEC Network.
Last Time Out
Little Rock earned its first series victory of the season, taking two of three from North Alabama in Florence. Little Rock rallied to tie game one 4-4 in the eighth before falling 6-4, then the bats came alive in a 9-1 victory Saturday and a 10-3 win Sunday. It was the Trojans' first series victory since taking two of three from the Lions at Gary Hogan Field February 28 - March 1, 2020.
Big Honors for Barnum
Senior first baseman
Kobe Barnum was named Sun Belt Player of the Week for his efforts in the Trojan series victory at North Alabama. Barnum was 5-for-10 with a 1.100 slugging percentage, two home runs and seven RBI against the Lions. He had a career day for the Trojans on Sunday, going 4-for-5 with six RBI and seven total bases, sparking the Little Rock offense.
Scouting the Tigers
Auburn enters the weekend series at 8-4 on the year, dropping two of three to 18th-ranked Boston College on the weekend before rallying for a 6-5 win over UAB Tuesday. The Tigers are one of the nation's top batting teams with a .328 team average and 12 players batting .300 or better on the season. The Tigers lead the nation in hits (143) and rank seventh in doubles (28), eighth in scoring (10.1 rpg), ninth in triples (five), 12th in batting average and 13th in slugging percentage (.532). On the mound, Auburn boasts a team GPA of 3.56 while limiting the opposition to a .220 batting average. The Tiger pitching staff has accounted for 113 strikeouts on the year opposed to 40 walks.
Trojans Against the SEC
Little Rock enters this weekend's series at Auburn 9-35 (.205) all-time in program history against the SEC, facing eight of the current 14 members of the conference. The most common foe has been Ole Miss, facing the Rebels 21 times with a 5-16 (.238) all-time mark. Little Rock's last win over a member of the SEC came in 2019 in a historic 17-7 win over reigning national runner-up Arkansas at Baum-Waker Stadium in the first-ever meeting between the two in-state programs.
Weather Forecast
The forecast for the weekend in Auburn is looking like nearly ideal baseball weather. Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 70s to low 80s all week under mostly sunny skies and very little rain chances.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. Auburn is one of four teams on the slate for Little Rock in 2021 that reached either the NCAA Super Regionals or College World Series in 2019 as the Tigers played in the College World Series that year. The Trojans have already played at Oklahoma State (Super Regional) and have two games each against Arkansas (College World Series) and Ole Miss (Super Regional) later in the year.
2. Senior catcher
John Michael Russ has emerged as Little Rock's top offensive bat early in the 2021 season, batting .500 through the first nine games to lead the Sun Belt Conference and rank 17th nationally. Russ is 18-of-36 on the year with all of his hits coming in the form of singles, driving in four runs with six runs scored. At North Alabama, Russ was 8-of-12 (.667) with three RBI and three runs scored, drawing a pair of walks.
3. Sophomore center fielder
Tyler Williams is building on the success of his freshman season. The top Sun Belt prospect for 2022 by Perfect Game, Williams leads the Trojans in RBI (nine), triples (one) and total bases (21), is tied for first in home runs (two) and tied for third in doubles (two) and stolen bases (two).
4. Graduate transfer
Aaron Barkley has been a force out of the bullpen for the Trojans this season, posting a 2-0 record with a save in four appearances on the year. Barkley has posted a 0.82 ERA in 11.0 innings pitched with 10 strikeouts, building on the 136 Ks he had in two seasons at Mississippi Valley State.
5. Little Rock boasts one of the most experienced pitching staffs in the Sun Belt Conference this season, combining for 624 innings pitched at the Division I level and 626 strikeouts. Saturday starter
Hayden Arnold is the Trojans' active leader in both innings pitched (145.2) and strikeouts (158).
#LittleRocksTeam
