AUBURN — Milwaukee defeated Auburn 13-8 on Friday, May 29, 2026, in an NCAA regional baseball game at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Alabama. The Panthers’ victory came against the tournament’s fourth overall seed and marked the latest milestone in a late-season turnaround.

Milwaukee entered the game six games below .500 but had won seven consecutive contests after starting the season 5-23 and finishing 20-8. The Panthers’ offense overwhelmed Auburn starter Jake Marciano, who entered the game leading the team in ERA, WHIP, and walks allowed over 81⅔ innings. After striking out the first batter, Marciano yielded three consecutive singles and a run, followed by a two-run home run by John Hadley. Milwaukee chased him after one inning, during which he surrendered six runs on eight hits while facing 10 batters and throwing 29 pitches.

In the second inning, three additional Milwaukee batters recorded two doubles and a single off Marciano, scoring another run before he was removed. The Panthers’ approach at the plate followed scout instructions to battle with two strikes, look for pitches up, and avoid chasing low offerings.

"We came out on the attack," Milwaukee coach Shaun Wegner said. "Jake Marciano is a really good pitcher in the SEC, and we just figured we had to jump him early and try to get some swings off."

Wegner added that he noticed something amiss from Marciano’s first pitch. "I kind of saw from the first pitch, when he threw a ball," he said. "I'm like, 'Maybe he's a little off today. I don't know.' You just get those thoughts rolling in your head, and hitting is so contagious. When you get the energy rolling and the belief throughout that dugout, you never know what you can do, and these guys — I mean, you saw what happened."

Milwaukee started the season 5-23 and finished 20-8, winning seven consecutive games entering the NCAA Tournament.