Butch Thompson and players met with the media ahead of Auburn traveling to South Carolina
AUBURN — For arguably their toughest matchup so far this season, Auburn hits the road to Columbia, South Carolina, for a three-game series beginning on Friday night against the No. 2 ranked Gamecocks.
The Tigers are coming off a much-needed series win against Mississippi State this past weekend, but most recently fell during their midweek to Troy. Auburn is now 7-11 in the SEC. South Carolina is 13-4 in conference play.
RELATED: Auburn drops midweek tilt vs. Troy
Game times are set for 6 p.m. on Friday, 3 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Head coach Butch Thompson met with the media before the team hit the road. Here are the highlights of what he said.
— “I like the word ‘opportunity’ for this series. We’re really at a point where we have to play a certain level of baseball to continue.” Butch Thompson said that his message to the team is to just go out there and play with ‘nothing to lose’ mentality.
— “Offensively, our guys have just continued to fight… We know we have our work cut out for us.” Thompson talked about the veterans on South Carolina’s team, with pitching and offensively. “I think these next two offenses are the best in the country.”
— Joseph Gonzalez and Zach Crotchfelt: “I don’t think either will pitch (this weekend).” Thompson announced that Gonzalez officially will be out for the rest of the regular season. With Crotchfelt, “we need him strong for the rest of the year.. I think we just make sure it’s 100% and probably hold him this weekend and get him ready to go for next weekend, for LSU…”
— Thompson said that they will stick with Tommy Vail on Friday night and Christian Herberholz on Saturday as starters. “Try to get those guys to eat as many innings as we can and then go from there.” Auburn’s Sunday starter is TBD as usual.
Auburn players:
Auburn’s Nate LaRue and Christian Herberholz met with the media following Butch Thompson. Here are the highlights of what they said.
LaRue:
— “Going on the road against, to what I think is the best team in the country, with a chance to prove ourself… If we go there and play Auburn baseball, it’s going to be a good weekend.”
— On Vail’s performance recently: “He’s been very intentional with what he does. Every pitch he throws, he’s got a plan behind it…” Said Vail essentially calls his own games, “he’s been there, done that.”
— Message to the Auburn team, especially the younger guys: “Coach Thompson always says, stay in the fight. We’re trying to add to that with ‘attack the fight.'” LaRue talked about the legacy guys adding their own twist to the mentality with the team and trying to get them to all want to stay in the fight each game.
— LaRue talked about having a few hits and a homer recently: “It feels better than not hitting the ball… Obviously I’m not hitting well right now… One thing I can control is how I lead and how I catch… The only thing you can control is how you show up to the field each day.”
Herberholz:
— Last couple SEC outings, what has worked for him: “I think just trusting myself and letting my defense work behind me whenever the ball gets put into play.”
— “We have a good chance to build our resume. I mean, we’re playing probably the best two teams in the country these next two weeks.” Herberholz talked about the opportunity that Auburn has heading into this weekend.
— What Vail has been recently to this team: “It’s huge, he’s got more experience than anybody on the team.” Herberholz talked about what he has learned from him and his preparation, “how he goes about preparing for his starts.”
— Heading to South Carolina, what Auburn pitchers need to do this weekend: “You’ve just got to trust your stuff… Everybody knows they’re one of the better hitting teams in the country.”
