Tigers wrap up strong week of practice

AUBURN | Butch Thompson had a plan for his team as soon as they arrived back in Auburn late Saturday night following a weekend sweep at LSU, which increased their losing streak to seven games.

“He said when we got off the bus on Saturday night that we're going to kind of go back to where we started in the fall,” junior pitcher Keegan Thompson said. “We've kind of had that same mindset and it's been a kind of a fun atmosphere this week so far.”

Thompson put the 23rd-ranked Tigers through two-a-day practices for four days this week leading up to this weekend’s final regular season series against Ole Miss.

“I think it was good,” Butch Thompson said. “It allowed us to spend more time as a ball club now that school is out and less limitations for practice. What it allowed us to do is get on the field for a shorter period of time but with maybe more intensity. We felt like after the last two weeks that we needed to refocus on fundamentals and get back after it and the team spend a lot of time together.

“I think it's allowed us to hit a reset button and refocus and get ready and really head into this last SEC weekend with no regrets knowing that we've gotten back together and tried to sharpen our axe.”

The players were able to work on hitting in the morning and concentrate on defense in the afternoon session. They also had some post-practice watermelons to help cool off as the Tigers look to regain the team chemistry that helped them win 10 of their first 11 series of the season.

“I think everybody has a positive attitude,” Keegan Thompson said. “We have struggled the last few weeks but nobody has let that get to them. Everybody has come in this week with a positive attitude and bringing a lot of energy to the field for our practices the last couple of days. We're going into it head on.”

Auburn hosts Ole Miss at Plainsman Park Thursday night at 6 p.m. CT, Friday night at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. The SEC Tournament will being Tuesday, May 23.