autigeremt 6,569 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Feb. 16, 2012 Derek Varnadore gets the Opening Day nod on Friday at 3pm The curtain rises on the 2012 Auburn baseball season on Friday at 3pm at Plainsman Park when Auburn plays host to Missouri for a three-game series. The game signifies the beginning of Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski's fourth season at Auburn and the 117th in Auburn baseball history. "This time of year everyone is anxious and excited to get started," Pawlowski said. "I am anxious to see what the new guys can do and how they are going to turn into the players that we want out there." Auburn welcomed 17 newcomers into the fold this season and they will be expected to contribute early and often as just two starting position players return from the 2011 team in Creede Simpson and Cullen Wacker. Auburn lost 74 percent of last season's at bats and all but five of the team's home runs from last season. On the mound Auburn returns 398 2/3 out of 518 innings (77 percent) and is led by 2011 ace Derek Varnadore, who led the team in wins (six), ERA (3.68), strike outs (74) and innings pitched (88) last season. Varnadore gets the opening day nod this year and will be followed in the weekend rotation by Slade Smith, who was 2-2 with a 5.83 ERA in 66 1/3 innings last season, working as both a starter (seven starts) and a reliever (11 relief appearances). Auburn has not determined its Sunday starter yet. Game times for the rest of the series are 3pm on Saturday and 1pm on Sunday. The first 1,000 fans into Friday's game will receive schedule posters and it is also a Foursquare Friday where fans can check-in at Plainsman Park on Fourquare for the chance to win a prize from Auburn baseball. Fans can also purchase a two-event ticket for the Auburn All In Weekend for $20 that includes the baseball game at 3pm on Saturday and the men's basketball game vs. Mississippi State at 7pm that same day. Sunday is Family Day and fans can buy three tickets and get one free (advance purchase only) and the game will be followed by a team autograph session. All three games this weekend will air live on WKKR-FM 97.7 locally as well as on-line at www.auburntigers.com. Sunday's game will have a live video stream on the website as well. Season tickets are on sale for $170 for a reserved box seat. Fans can also purchase a Pick 6 Package for $40. Single-game tickets are $8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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