LSU baseball will get its fifth SEC series of the year underway on Friday night as the Tigers begin a three-game set with Auburn.
LSU sits No. 3 in D1Baseball's latest poll, riding a nine-game win streak. The Tigers are 31-3 on the year and 10-2 in SEC play.
After sweeping No. 10 Oklahoma last week, LSU's resume is strong. That resume will get even stronger if the Tigers can notch another road series win vs. a top-10 opponent this weekend. But Auburn is riding high after taking two of three from Alabama and notching a midweek win over No. 15 Georgia Tech.
Auburn is in the midst of a brutal stretch of its schedule, beginning SEC play with six straight series against ranked opponents. It's made due so far, posting a 6-6 conference record. Auburn has its eyes set on hosting postseason baseball in June.
Here are three things to know before LSU baseball faces Auburn on Friday night.
We have a battle of aces on Friday night
LSU's series opener vs. Oklahoma gave us one of the best pitching matchups the SEC has seen all year with Kade Anderson facing OU's Kyson Witherspoon. We have a similar caliber matchup on Friday with Anderson facing Auburn's Sam Dutton.
Dutton spent the first three years of his career at LSU, which included making an appearance in the College World Series in 2023. He struggled to find his footing in Baton Rouge, but Dutton emerged as an ace after transferring to Auburn. Dutton's ERA ranks No. 6 in the SEC, and he's been lights out at home vs. SEC teams.
Anderson ranks second in the SEC in innings and strikeouts and is racing up MLB draft boards as he enjoys a breakout sophomore campaign.
Auburn is tough to beat at home
Auburn enjoys its home park. Auburn has won both of its home SEC series so far this season and hasn't lost back-to-back home games in 24 straight tries.
But LSU is starting to get comfortable on the road. Friday night will mark LSU's fifth straight road contest. LSU is 5-2 on the road this year, but the Tigers have won four straight road contests.
LSU has a massive pitching advantage in game's two and three
LSU has the slight pitching edge on Friday night, but the gap is clear later in the series.
Auburn's Saturday starter Cade Fisher owns a 4.43 ERA in seven starts. That's not terrible, especially in the modern era of SEC baseball, but LSU's Anthony Eyanson is among the best No. 2 starters in the conference.
Auburn is yet to announce a Sunday starter, but if the Anderson and Eyanson can keep LSU's bullpen fresh, the Tigers will be in a good position to outpitch Auburn in game three.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire:
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