After a disappointing season last year, Butch Thompson and the Auburn Tigers are looking for a fresh start as they open up the season on Friday with a three-game series against Holy Cross at a newly-renovated Plainsman Park.
“We're super excited, hosting Holy Cross. Those guys will come in tonight and get started with the series tomorrow,” said Auburn head coach Butch Thompson on Thursday. “I know we've talked about – and you guys have finally got a first hand look before we started – Plainsman Park and all those renovations and how amazing everything is.
“Just to button it up, basically, we've had 34 sellouts the last two years. That's all but three SEC ball games. We're going to be able to offer, now to our fans and Auburn Family, over 6,000 people per game to be able to come into Plainsman Park, the most than ever before. So we're excited for those enhancements and those changes.”
The Tigers struggled mightily a season ago on the mound – namely developing a starting rotation that could provide valuable innings. Thompson and his staff brought in an array of talent, both from the portal and high school ranks. With Thompson highlighting strike-percentage as a key factor in earning a spot in the main rotation, transfers Cade Fisher and Sam Dutton are expected to see early action on the mound this weekend.
Fisher, a left-handed transfer from Florida, will get the start on the mound for the Tigers on Friday. Looking to improve upon his 7.13 ERA from a year ago, Fisher is looking to build off of his 76 strikeouts posted in 26 games. Dutton, a right-hander making the move to the Plains from LSU, will get the start for the Tigers on Saturday. He appeared in 20 games for the Bayou Bengals a year ago, notching four starts with a 5.86 ERA in 27.2 innings with six walks and 29 strikeouts.
“Those guys won the game of driving strike percentage. Especially our Friday and Saturday night starters, with Fisher and Dutton, that was 68% strikes overall and 67% strikes. So that's what our team needs to see. That was our focus. That's what our fans want to see is, you know, a couple of guys go out there and try to start a game and fill up the strike zone,” Thompson said.
Making his first collegiate start and rounding out the weekend rotation, Christian Chatteron will get the nod on Sunday. Coming from the right side, the Killen, AL, native was rated by Perfect Game as the No. 65 overall player in the class, including the No. 2 right-handed pitcher in Alabama.
“With Chatt, it’s stuff. It’s coming at you and it's high intensity stuff and he’s got X-factor pitches. All of them do,” said Auburn catcher and team captain Ike Irish.
Returning Irish and Cooper McMurray, who both earned preseason All-SEC Honors, Thompson and his staff brought in a plethora of new faces through the offseason - 21 who have never played a collegiate game - and with five games in six days it provides an early opportunity for them to get on the field.
“What we're trying to do is to try to get some rhythm going and to get some winning going. I'd like to see that. I think playing five games in six days – eight games in 10 days, or whatever it is – that'll force us to use all these pieces and see some of these young guys in play,” Thompson said.
Holy Cross is coming off a 26-27 year, 14-11 in-conference, in which it recorded its most Patriot League wins since the 2019 season. It was the Crusaders first .500 regular season overall since 2016. The Crusaders’ posted six All-Patriot League honorees, the most in one season since 2015. Head coach Ed Kahovec was selected by his fellow Patriot League coaches as the conference’s Coach of the Year.
First pitch for Friday is set for 6 p.m. CTS and will be streamed on SECN+.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Logan Fowler is a Senior from Sumiton, Alabama and is majoring in journalism. He joined the Plainsman in Spring 2024.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @loganffowler
