Tigers kick off season today

It begins today.

The 2008 Auburn baseball season will officially get underway when AU’s Luke Greinke delivers the first pitch of today’s game against East Tennessee State.

The Tigers will play 20 games in 26 days to start the season, including this weekend’s four-game series, which concludes Monday.

Greinke, a right-hander, will be making his second career start for AU. The junior had a 2.61 ERA in six appearances last season.

With ace Paul Burnside out at least a month thanks to a broken collarbone, Greinke leads a young pitching staff. This weekend’s other projected starters are sophomores Taylor Thompson and Austin Hubbard and true freshman Cory Luckie.

Luckie, Saturday’s starter, was the star of fall practice.

The rookie threw 25 scoreless innings against his AU teammates to earn the No. 2 starter’s spot.

East Tennessee returns four starting pitchers and six position starters from last year’s team, which finished 26-29 in 2007.

All four of this weekend’s games will begin at 3 p.m. Friday and Monday, fans can receive two-for-one admission by displaying a business card.

Tickets can be purchased at the ticket booth at Plainsman Park.

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