In its first regional appearance since 2010, Milwaukee tallied seven hits the first time through the order and 10 runs across the first four frames en route to a 13-8 upset win over No. 4 overall seed Auburn in the opening game of the Auburn Regional on Friday at Plainsman Park.
Eight Auburn pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts, but Milwaukee still out-hit the Tigers 16-9 and drew six walks while scoring in six innings. The Panthers scored in every inning in which the leadoff hitter reached base and added another run in the ninth after opening the frame with a strikeout. Every Milwaukee starter scored at least one run, and three crossed the plate multiple times.
Riding a seven-game win streak into postseason play, the Panthers tallied 10 runs in the first four innings, marking the second time they have done so this season. Auburn, meanwhile, suffered its second loss versus a regional four-seed in the last four seasons – the last coming against Penn in 2023.
Auburn starter Jake Marciano, who entered with the second-best earned run average in the Southeastern Conference (2.64), tossed just one inning and yielded six runs on eight hits, taking his sixth loss of the season.
The Panthers led off the ballgame with a four-run first that saw three consecutive singles and a three-run blast put Auburn in an early hole. They scored two more in the second with a pair of doubles to lead off the frame and an RBI groundout, all with zero outs.
Meanwhile, six Auburn hitters were retired in order through the first two frames.
Milwaukee stretched its lead to 10-0 with its second four-run inning in the fourth after an RBI single through the left side and its second three-run homer of the day.
Facing a 3-2 count in the home half of the frame, Ethin Bingaman crushed his 12th homer of the season over the War Eagle Wall in left to put Auburn on the board and cut the lead to 10-3 after a pair of singles from Chris Rembert and Bub Terrell earlier in the inning.
Milwaukee plated another run in the fifth after a leadoff triple and a double ripped off the wall in right center, but Auburn punched back with a pair of runs in the bottom half with an RBI groundout from Eric Guevara and a solo blast off the bat of Chase Fralick, his 15th of the season.
Auburn turned in its second scoreless frame heading into the bottom of the sixth before a 30-minute weather delay stopped play.
Milwaukee returned the favor after the break and tacked on another run in the seventh on a bloop double down the left field line.
The Tigers cut their deficit to five in the home half of the seventh after Mason McCraine ripped a double to right field with two outs, and Guevara recorded his 13th round-tripper of the season.
Four walks in the ninth led to another Milwaukee run.
Auburn plated a single run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded.
Auburn will face the loser of N.C. State and UCF, set to play later this evening, on Saturday at 2 p.m. in an elimination game.
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