Auburn baseball taking things ‘one day at a time’ during NCAA tournament

As the NCAA tournament gets underway, it would be easy for Auburn to look past Milwaukee. The Bobcats enter the regional as the lowest seed with a sub-.500 record, but head coach Butch Thompson is ensuring his squad maintains a laser-like focus on the task at hand.

Respecting the Opposition

Despite the perceived gap in talent, Milwaukee arrives at the regional riding an impressive eight-game winning streak. "This Milwaukee club’s won eight in a row, so they have our full attention," Thompson said. "We’ve got to try to get the same standard effort that we’ve been putting out there that will be required in this first game of the regional."

Managing the Mound

Auburn is sticking to its Friday night formula, sending ace Jake Marciano to the hill for the opener. However, the plan for the remainder of the weekend remains fluid. While All-SEC reliever Jackson Sanders typically follows Marciano, the staff is prepared to pivot depending on the game's flow. If the Tigers build a significant cushion, they may choose to preserve Sanders for later appearances.

Thompson refrained from mapping out the rotation beyond Friday. "We’ll just play it like we’re starting a series and see where we’re at after Jake," he said. "But not thinking about Game 2, Game 3 starter, because you don’t know what complexion and turns you’re gonna take."

A Season Defined by Resilience

The mantra of taking things one game at a time has been the cornerstone of the Tigers' season. After a sweep at the hands of Alabama, the team responded by winning six consecutive series, showing an ability to put midweek setbacks in the rearview mirror and thrive on the weekend.

Reflecting on the journey, Thompson noted the chemistry within the clubhouse. "I’ve had as much fun as I’ve ever had in my career, like I’m thanking them every day," he shared.

Catcher Chase Fralick, who helped anchor last year’s run to the super regionals, echoed his coach’s sentiment regarding their preparation. "We had a five-week goal for the last five weeks of the regular season, but it was taken one day at a time," Fralick said. "It was just putting our best foot forward each game, and that’s what we’re gonna continue to do."

With Auburn entering as a No. 4 national seed for the second consecutive year, the team is hungry to exceed last season's exit and punch a ticket to the College World Series. For now, however, the only thing that matters at 205focus.com is the opening pitch against Milwaukee.