Auburn regional preview: Full schedule and breakdown of this weekend’s games

Postseason baseball returns to Plainsman Park this Friday, as Auburn prepares to host a regional for the second consecutive year and the fourth time in the last five seasons.

Entering the tournament as the No. 4 national seed, Auburn is positioned to hold home-field advantage through both the regional and super regional rounds, provided they advance through this weekend’s bracket.

The Tigers will be joined in the Auburn regional by Central Florida, North Carolina State, and Milwaukee. Milwaukee enters the field as the regional's sole automatic qualifier after securing their spot through a Horizon League tournament title. Meanwhile, UCF and NC State both earned at-large bids. Notably, the postseason will serve as the final run for legendary NC State head coach Elliot Avent, who has announced his retirement at the conclusion of the season. NC State is making a return trip to the Auburn regional, having faced the Tigers in last year's regional final, a game which Auburn claimed 11-1.

Team Breakdown

Auburn (No. 1 Seed, No. 4 National Seed)
Record: 38-19
Top Pitchers: Jake Marciano (5-5, 2.64 ERA, 100 K), Jackson Sanders (4-1, 2.66 ERA, 82 K), LJ Cormier (1-0, 2.06 ERA, 49 K)
Top Hitters: Brandon McCraine (.347 BA, 16 SB), Chris Rembert (.345 BA, 4 HR, 43 RBI), Eric Guevara (.335 BA, 12 HR, 49 RBI)

UCF (No. 2 Seed)
Record: 31-21
Top Pitchers: Matt Sauser (2-3, 3.06 ERA), Camden Wicker (5-3, 4.00 ERA, 61 K), Mateo Gray (4.87 ERA, 47 K)
Top Hitters: Zak Skinner (.365 BA, 5 HR), Javier Crespo (.335 BA, 5 HR), John Smith III (.328 BA, 12 HR, 49 RBI)

NC State (No. 3 Seed)
Record: 32-22
Top Pitchers: Ryan Marohn (6-1, 3.18 ERA, 62 K), Jacob Dudan (4-1, 3.60 ERA, 62 K), Anderson Nance (4-2, 3.78 ERA, 56 K)
Top Hitters: Everett Johnson (.392 BA, 14 SB), Luke Nixon (.361 BA, 9 HR, 44 RBI), Ty Head (.294 BA, 14 HR, 48 RBI)

Milwaukee (No. 4 Seed)
Record: 25-31
Top Pitchers: Camden Kuhnke (4-1, 3.38 ERA), Aric Ehmke (5-6, 4.63 ERA, 45 K), Aiden Fishnick (0-0, 4.67 ERA)
Top Hitters: Dylan O’Connell (.338 BA, 40 SB), Dominic Kibler (.317 BA, 11 HR, 59 RBI), Charlie Marion (.310 BA, 12 HR, 54 RBI)

Weekend Schedule

• Game 1: Auburn vs. Milwaukee, Noon CT (ESPN+)
• Game 2: UCF vs. NC State, 5 p.m. CT (ESPN2)
• Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 2 p.m. CT (TBA)
• Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 7 p.m. CT (TBA)
• Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 2 p.m. CT (TBA)
• Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 7 p.m. CT (TBA)
• Game 7: If Necessary Game (TBA)