Auburn Survives Again, Sets Up Game 7 in Auburn Regional

The Auburn Tigers have found a way to run the gauntlet of the NCAA Regionals and force a Game 7 with everything on the line Monday.

The team took down the Milwaukee Panthers 8-1 behind some elite pitching, a much-needed bounce-back after losing to the same squad to open the double-elimination tournament on Friday. 

Milwaukee chose to go with their closer, Camden Kuhnke, to begin the game. He allowed base traffic off two walks, but was able to get out of the inning without Auburn getting any runs in. The Tigers bats did a good job getting his pitch count high and forcing a mound visit before the half inning was over. 

Ryan Hetzler got the start for the Tigers after completing the three-inning save in game one against UCF. He immediately came in and erased any concerns about whether he would be tired from the previous usage and retired the Milwaukee side, including two strikeouts. 

He continued to shine the rest of the night as he finished with six strikeouts over four innings of work. He finished both Sunday games with seven innings and 104 pitches. Giving Auburn a true fighting chance for Monday’s contest. 

LJ Cormier followed Hetzler in relief, and it was a career night for the freshman. Cormier struck out eight batters over 5 innings of work and did it all by throwing only 60 pitches. His efficiency and confidence to continuously attack the zone were not something you normally see from a first-year college baseball player. After being knocked around on Friday in the Tigers loss, he definitely bounced back in a big way. 

Auburn finds the scoreboard first as Cade Beyleu hits a sharp ground ball down the first base line all the way to the outfield wall. He scored Ethin Bingaman after reaching base on a single. They didn’t stop there in the second inning as more walks from Kuhnke helped load the bases for the Tigers. After an Eric Guevara sacrifice fly, Chase Fralick hit a 3-run homer to push the lead to 5-0. 

With the homerun by the Auburn Catcher, he broke a program record for a regional with 5 homers and 13 RBIs in one weekend, and he still has one game ot play.

They added three more run in the contest in the sixth inning to move the score to 8-1 and it was enough for the win. 

Auburn will play Milwaukee once more on Monday in a winner takes all game. The winner will move on to Super Regionals to take on Ole Miss. Auburn would host the Rebels if they move on, and Milwaukee would travel to Oxford if they were to win. First pitch is scheduled for 5 pm CT.