AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 4 Auburn Tigers (41-18) will host the No. 13 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (51-11) in the first-ever Super Regional played in Plainsman Park.
The Tigers and Chanticleers both won their respective Regionals with ease, both going 3-0. The Tigers are playing in their fifth Super Regional (fourth since 2019) and will play host to a Super Regional for the first time in program history. Riding their battle-proven lineup, full of both All-American seniors and scorching-hot freshmen, the Tigers look to return to Omaha for the first time since 2022.
For the Chanticleers, they are now winners of 21 consecutive contests, the longest winning streak in the country, and roll onto the plains looking to return to Omaha for the first time since they won the College World Series in 2016.
“They’re a handful,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said regarding the Chanticleers. “The most wins, and I guess, the 21 games in a row, it’s a real ballclub. Hopefully, those 10 weeks of SEC prepared us.”
The Tigers' game one starter will be senior right-hander Samuel Dutton, an LSU transfer who has pitched in some big-time games for the Tigers, including a regional win against the Stetson Hatters last Saturday. Dutton is 7-3 on the year with a 3.84 ERA, and the Tigers will look for a strong performance from him Friday night to put them in the driver's seat in this Super Regional.
The Chanticleers will give the ball to sophomore right-hander Cameron Flukey. Flukey got the win in the Chanticleers' game one victory over Fairfield in the Regionals and has posted a 7-1 record with a 3.12 ERA. Flukey has established himself as the Chanticleers' ace as of late, going at least six innings in his past six starts and reaching double-digit strikeouts twice, a pattern he will try to keep going Friday night on The Plains.
The Tigers and Chanticleers will face off in front of a raucous Plainsman Park crowd, with school officials predicting a new attendance record will be set. The current record, set just last week, was 7,434 for the Tigers' Regional semifinal game against Stetson. With more and more temporary seating being added and better baseball being played, players and fans are getting amped up for an incredible atmosphere.
First pitch between the Tigers and Chanticleers will be at 8 p.m. on Friday and will be aired on ESPN2. It will also be available for listening on the Auburn Sports Network or you can follow along on the ESPN app.
