The SEC announced its college baseball TV schedule on Thursday, the same day Auburn announced its opening weekend pitching rotation.
The Tigers open the year in Port Charlotte Florida at the Snowbird Classic Feb. 15-16, competing against Indiana State, Ohio State and Connecticut. Senior righty will get the Friday start against the Sycamores, senior lefty Michael O'Neal takes the mound Saturday against the Buckeyes and true freshman Keegan Thompson, who could play a major role on the mound and at the plate in 2014, is slated to go Sunday against the Huskies.
In 11 appearances -- four starts -- last season, Ortman compiled a 2-1 record and 4.88 ERA in 27⅔ innings, and he had a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 17-8. O'Neal, perhaps Auburn's best starter in 2013, threw 89 innings and started all 14 games in which he appeared, going 8-4 with a 2.73 ERA and a 36-21 strikeout-to-walk ratio. While the two upper classmen will attempt to use an assortment of breaking pitches to get batters out, Thompsan will look to overpower hitters with his fastball, which tops out in the lower 90s.
Sophomore Justin Camp will start the Tigers' home opener against Alabama State on Feb. 19. Camp appeared in 18 games last season, making two starts, and was 5-1 with a 2.44 ERA in 44⅓ innings. He struck out 28 and walked 19.
Auburn will make television appearances eight times throughout SEC play, with six coming at home:
Date | Opponent | Time (CT) | Network |
Sat., March 22 | at Tennessee | 3 p.m. | CSS |
Thurs., March 27 | vs. Missouri | 6:30 p.m. | ESPNU |
Sat., March 29 | vs. Missouri | noon | FSN |
Sun., April 6 | at Ole Miss | 1:30 p.m. | CSS |
Sat., April 19 | vs. South Carolina | 4 p.m. | CBSCSN |
Sun., April 20 | vs. South Carolina | 1 p.m. | CSS |
Sat., May 3 | vs. Mississippi State | 6 p.m. | CSS |
Sat., May 17 | vs. LSU | 1 p.m. | FSN |
For almost every home game that isn't available on TV, auburntigers.com will have the broadcast for paid subscribers. Monthly subscriptions cost $9.95, and the Auburn baseball broadcast is one of the better products in the SEC. The cost is well worth it for any fan who wants to keep up with the Tigers throughout baseball season.