AUBURN | It probably won’t be as big a test as UCF, but Wright State will bring a seasoned and relatively battle-tested team to Plainsman Park this weekend.

The Raiders are just 2-5 but have a win at No. 1 Louisville Feb. 19 and opened the season with a three-game series at No. 9 Mississippi State.

“They’ve already played in an SEC venue for a three-game series,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “I think that was a 42-game winner last year. They’ve already beat the No. 1 team in the country this year as they come in here. I think it’s exactly what we need to keep growing to try to respond. We got the midweek and got 2-0, but now you have the opportunity in a three-game series at home.

“I don’t think redeem is the right word, but can we keep growing? Can we go back to the top of our pitching staff and go through three nine-inning ballgames and play better than we did last weekend? That would be the goal.”

The 20th-ranked Tigers enters the series 7-3 coming off a two-game midweek sweep of Alabama A&M. Last weekend, however, UCF swept a three-game series at Auburn. Steven Williams and Kason Howell are expected to return to their starting outfield positions after missing last week with hamstring injuries.

Sophomore Ryan Bliss currently leads AU with a .419 average and is tied with Judd Ward for the team lead with 13 RBI. The Tigers have hit 29 doubles this season, which ranks second nationally.

Auburn’s pitching staff has struck out 10 or more batters in all nine games this season, a program record, and have 117 total strikeouts, which ranks third nationally.

Wright State returns 21 players from last year’s team that finished 42-17 and won the Horizon League regular season title. Sophomore shortstop Damon Dues leads the team with a .400 average while sophomore second baseman Gehrig Anglin is hitting .321 with two doubles, two triples and six RBI. Junior right-hander Jake Schrand has thrown 7.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen and has the Raiders’ lone save. The bullpen has allowed just eight earned runs in seven games.

“It’s going to be a big challenge,” said Ward. “We’ve just got to keep playing our game. Just attacking the zone and hitting good pitches, getting on base.”

Friday’s first pitch has been moved to 4 p.m. CT because of forecasted cold weather. Saturday’s game is scheduled for 2 p.m. and Sunday’s 1 p.m.