What does Auburn baseball’s regional path look like after losing to Milwaukee?
Breaking down how Auburn can still win its regional after losing to Milwaukee
Olivia Bennett 
Auburn baseball faced an incredibly difficult start to the NCAA tournament on Friday, suffering a 13-8 upset loss to Milwaukee. Now, the Tigers face an uphill battle, forced to navigate the loser's bracket to keep their championship hopes alive.
A Historic Upset
The scale of the loss is staggering. As the No. 4 national seed with a No. 3 ranking in the RPI, Auburn was expected to dominate a Milwaukee squad ranked 235 spots lower at No. 238. Since the NCAA tournament transitioned to its current format in 1999, only six top-four national seeds have dropped their opening game, and only two of those teams ultimately escaped the regional round.
The Road Ahead
To stay alive, Auburn must rattle off four consecutive victories. The path begins Saturday at 2 p.m. CT against either UCF or NC State. Those two teams saw their contest suspended in the top of the eighth inning due to weather, with the Knights leading 9-3; that game is slated to resume at 11:02 a.m. Saturday.
If the Tigers win their Saturday afternoon elimination game, they will face the loser of the Milwaukee versus UCF/NC State matchup. Advancing to the regional final would then require Auburn to beat their opponent twice to clinch the title.
Can Auburn Bounce Back?
History is not on the Tigers' side. Auburn has advanced out of the regional round five times since 1999, and they won their opening game in every single instance. Furthermore, the program has never overcome a loss in its first regional game to win the bracket.
Despite these grim statistics, 205focus.com notes that Auburn still possesses enough talent to mount a comeback. The team benefits from a relatively deep bullpen, and because Jake Marciano and LJ Cormier had short outings on Friday, both could be available later in the weekend. Managing a five-game stretch in four days is a tall order, but this staff might be built to withstand the pressure.
However, the sense of urgency is absolute. When Auburn last fell in a regional opener back in 2023, they were eliminated after just two games. For this 2026 squad, anything less than a gritty turnaround would represent a heartbreaking end to an otherwise stellar season.
