Auburn’s NCAA Tournament opener at Plainsman Park began with postseason optimism and ended in frustration, as the Tigers were overwhelmed in a 13-8 defeat to Milwaukee on Friday, dropping them into the elimination bracket of the Auburn Regional and putting immediate pressure on their championship hopes.
What was expected to be a controlled start for the home side quickly unraveled. Milwaukee seized momentum from the opening inning and never let go, delivering a stunning offensive performance that silenced the Auburn crowd early and forced the Tigers to chase the game for the remainder of the afternoon.
The Panthers came out aggressively against Auburn starter Jake Marciano, who entered the matchup with a strong 2.64 ERA and expectations of setting the tone for the regional opener. Instead, Milwaukee ambushed him from the first pitch sequence, plating four runs in the opening inning. The damage continued in the second inning with two more runs, pushing Auburn into a deep early hole.
Marciano’s outing was uncharacteristically brief and turbulent. After allowing six hits in just one inning plus three batters, the sophomore left-hander was pulled before he could settle into any rhythm. Auburn’s bullpen was forced into early action, but Milwaukee showed no signs of slowing down.
The turning point in terms of momentum came via the long ball. Bradyn Horn’s three-run homer in the first inning set the tone, and Charlie Marion delivered another crushing blow in the fourth with a three-run blast that extended Milwaukee’s lead to 10-0. At that point, Auburn’s postseason opener had shifted from a competitive contest to a steep uphill climb.
By the time Auburn finally broke through on the scoreboard, the deficit had already ballooned into double digits. Still, the Tigers refused to fold.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Auburn sparked its first real surge. Back-to-back singles from Chris Rembert and Bub Terrell set the stage for freshman Ike Bingaman, who delivered one of the few bright moments for the Tigers with a three-run home run to left field. The blast cut the Milwaukee lead to 10-3 and briefly injected life back into Plainsman Park.
Auburn continued to chip away. Chase Fralick added a solo home run in the fifth inning, and Eric Guevara provided one of the most productive performances of the day, launching a two-run homer off the scoreboard in the seventh inning. Guevara ultimately finished with four RBIs, including a sacrifice fly in the ninth that helped keep Auburn within striking distance late.
Despite the offensive resilience, the Tigers were never able to fully close the gap. Every Auburn rally was met with an immediate Milwaukee response, as the Panthers consistently delivered key insurance runs in the seventh and ninth innings to blunt any momentum shifts.
The final opportunity came in the ninth inning when Auburn loaded the bases, bringing the tying run into distant view. However, Milwaukee’s pitching staff held firm, escaping the jam and sealing one of the most significant victories in program history.
For Milwaukee, the win carries added weight beyond just advancing in the bracket. Entering the tournament with only one previous NCAA Tournament victory in program history and a 1-11 record against Power Four opponents this season, the Panthers delivered a breakthrough performance on one of the biggest stages in college baseball.
For Auburn, the path forward is now far less forgiving. The Tigers drop into the elimination bracket and will face the loser of the NC State vs. UCF matchup in a do-or-die contest on Saturday. With their season now hanging in the balance, Auburn must regroup quickly or see its home-field postseason run come to an abrupt end.
What began as a hopeful regional opener has turned into a survival test one that will define whether Auburn’s season continues or ends far earlier than expected.
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