Baseball News: 6-8-2026
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Dudley Dent
Jun 8, 2026, 8:21:16 AM (yesterday) Jun 8
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Auburn Baseball News: 6-8-2026
No. 4 Auburn falls to Ole Miss in super regional opener:
https://auburntigers.com/news/2026/06/6/no-4-auburn-falls-to-ole-miss-in-super-regional-opener
No. 4 Auburn’s journey comes to an end vs. Ole Miss:
https://auburntigers.com/news/2026/06/7/no-4-auburns-journey-comes-to-an-end-vs-ole-miss
What to make of Auburn baseball’s 2026 season and Super Regional exit:
https://www.al.com/auburn/2026/06/what-to-make-of-auburn-baseballs-2026-season-and-super-regional-exit.html
Auburn baseball roster plans for 2026: Butch Thompson not depending on transfer portal:
https://www.al.com/auburn/2026/06/auburn-baseball-roster-plans-for-2026-butch-thompson-not-depending-on-transfer-portal.html
Caldwell Column: Tough end for baseball Tigers but program has never been better:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburns-baseball-program-is-in-a-great-spot-despite-coming-up-short-in-2026-287544651/
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Friday's Results:
No. 4 Auburn falls to Ole Miss in super regional opener
By Jeff Shearer
The largest crowd in Plainsman Park history, 10,627, saw Ole Miss hit two home runs to defeat No. 4 Auburn 6-4 Friday in the first game of their super regional.
“The two-out hits were big,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “That was the difference in the ballgame. I liked how we kept having at-bats. I really felt like we had a chance to get back in that ballgame all the way up to the last batter at the plate. I’d like for them to play with the same resolve tomorrow and hopefully get a different result. We’ll keep fighting.”
Trailing 6-3, freshman Mason McCraine led off the bottom of the ninth with a 387-foot home run that landed on the roof of the player development center beyond right field.
“I saw a pitch in the zone, trying to get the leadoff man on,” said McCraine, who was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. “We’ve been in this role before, and I think we have the team to do it.”
Ole Miss closer Walker Hooks hit Chase Fralick with one out, bringing the potential tying run to the plate. Chris Rembert and Ethin Bingaman both barreled balls to right field to end the game.
“Rembert and Bingaman, those are exactly the type of approaches you need in that moment,” Thompson said. “We’ve got to keep swinging and make a difference with the two-out stuff. That’s where they got us tonight.”
Four days after Auburn fans set the program attendance record in the Tigers’ regional final victory, they shattered it by 2,399.
Auburn starter Andreas Alvarez struck out the side in the top of the first, keeping the overflow crowd locked in from the get-go.
Ole Miss scored first with a two-out RBI single in the top of the second, taking a 1-0 lead when Brayden Randle drove in Hayden Federico.
Auburn loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second, but a double play ended the inning.
Bristol Carter singled to lead off the bottom of the third, moved to second on McCraine’s single, advanced to third when Eric Guevara was hit by a pitch, and scored on Fralick’s game-tying sacrifice fly before another double play ended the inning.
Randle delivered for the Rebels again with two outs in top of the fourth, driving in Austin Fawley, who had doubled, to give Ole Miss a 2-1 lead.
The Rebels increased their lead to 4-1 when Judd Utermark hit a two-run home run over the War Eagle Wall, his 22nd homer of the season.
Auburn answered in the bottom of fifth after a leadoff walk to McCraine and Guevara’s single to right. Rembert followed with an RBI single up the middle, scoring McCraine to trim the Rebels’ lead to 4-2 and chasing Ole Miss starter Hunter Elliott.
Alvarez (10-4) fanned 10, reaching double digit strikeouts for the fourth time this season and bringing his season total to 113.
Alvarez exited after issuing his only walk of the game with two outs in the top of the sixth, allowing five earned runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings. The Rebels’ No. 9 hitter, Collin Reuter, hit the first pitch from reliever LJ Cormier over the wall in center for a two-run home run for a 6-2 Ole Miss lead.
Cormier retired the next six hitters he faced, allowing one run on three hits in 3.1 innings while striking out four.
Auburn’s first extra base hit came in the bottom of the sixth, an RBI double from McCraine that scored Carter to cut the Rebels’ lead to 6-3.
Auburn drew six walks but the Tigers were 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base.
Ole Miss reliever Hudson Calhoun (5-3) earned the win, pitching 2.2 innings while allowing only one run. Hooks pitched the final 2.0 innings to earn his eighth save.
Needing a victory to force a winner-take-all game three on Sunday, Auburn (42-21) and Ole Miss (40-21) play game two of their super regional Saturday at 4 p.m. CT.
“We’ll be right back out here ready to go with (Alex) Petrovic,” Thompson said. “When your back is against the wall, Petro and (Jackson) Sanders are two guys we’re pointing toward tomorrow.”
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Saturday's Results:
No. 4 Auburn’s journey comes to an end vs. Ole Miss
By Jeff Shearer
Ole Miss hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of eighth inning to sweep the Auburn Super Regional, beating the No. 4 Tigers 5-3 Saturday at Plainsman Park.
“We found a way to negotiate a couple runs and got a lead. Never could build on it,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “To their credit, I’d want Alex (Petrovic) and Jackson (Sanders) on that mound for us today. A couple days in row, they did a little more offensively and we couldn’t catch a rhythm with that and then outpitched us a little bit, too. Some of that credit for slowing our offense has to go their way.”
With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Will Furniss hit a two-run homer over the wall in right to put Ole Miss ahead. Tristan Bissetta followed with a solo shot to right to give the Rebels a three-run lead heading to the ninth.
Bub Terrell led off the top of the ninth with a single off Ole Miss closer Walker Hooks, then with one out, Cade Belyeu was hit by a pitch and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Taylor Belza’s sacrifice fly scored Terrell to bring the Tigers within two, but a grounder to third ended the game to give Hooks his second save of the super regional and ninth of the season.
For the third straight game, Auburn fans set a Plainsman Park attendance record, packing the park to the tune of 10,635.
“I love the momentum we’ve built thanks to our fans,” Thompson said. “The last two weeks have been pretty awesome for us. A grind, but nonetheless a lot of good memories.”
With one out in the top of the first inning, Eric Guevera singled up the middle on the first pitch he saw but Ole Miss turned its third double play of the super regional to end the inning.
Auburn starter Alex Petrovic needed only nine pitches to retire the Rebels in the bottom of the first, benefiting from flashy defense at first, second and third base.
The visiting team in game two, Auburn led off the top of the second with singles from Chris Rembert and Ethin Bingaman, but Ole Miss starter Taylor Rabe retired the next three Tigers, two by strikeout, to end the threat.
Auburn’s impressive infield defense continued in the bottom of the second inning, with Rembert showcasing his range at second.
Petrovic recorded his first two strikeouts in the bottom of the third, setting down the Rebels in order through the first three innings.
Auburn scored a pair of runs in the top of the fourth when Terrell singled to right field with runners on the corners to bring home Rembert. When Terrell then got in a rundown between first and second, Bingaman raced home from third, beating the throw with a head-first slide for a 2-0 Auburn lead.
Shortstop Brandon McCraine joined the highlight parade in the bottom of fourth, ranging up the middle to retire Ole Miss leadoff hitter Dom Decker, then turning an inning-ending double play after a walk to help Petrovic face the minimum through four innings.
“You want the ball in a play as a pitcher, having a phenomenal defense behind you is huge,” Petrovic said. “I have so much confidence in our defense that I’m able to attack the zone, knowing they can get outs and it looks easy.”
Hayden Federico produced the Rebels’ first hit in the bottom of the fifth, but the Ole Miss center fielder wandered too far off first base and was tagged out, and Petrovic struck out the next two batters to strand a runner at third.
Ole Miss tied the score at 2-2 on Judd Utermark’s two-run double in the bottom of the sixth, ending Petrovic’s outing after 5.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits with five strikeouts.
Jackson Sanders relieved Petrovic, retiring the first two batters he faced to strand Utermark at second. Sanders struck out the side in the seventh, pitching around a pair of HBPs.
JP Robertson (5-1) relieved Rabe to start the eighth inning, retiring the first two Tigers before issuing back-to-back walks to Chase Fralick and Rembert.
Bingaman drilled an 0-1 pitch to center field but Federico saved two runs by making a leaping catch on the warning track to end the inning.
“That seemed like that was going to make it harder because they absolutely pitched it great,” Thompson said of the momentum-swinging grab. “That ball was hit really hard. They made us pay a little bit offensively, got more done, and I absolutely think they did the same thing on the mound. The combination of those two made it hard.”
Sanders (5-2) took the loss, allowing three runs in 2.0 innings. Ryan Hetzler recorded the final two outs.
One of only two teams in the country to host consecutive super regionals, Auburn (42-22) ends its season while Ole Miss (41-21) advances to the College World Series for the seventh time.
“These past two years have been the most fun I’ve had playing baseball with these guys,” said Guevara, one of Auburn’s captains. “Having young guys out there and they’re not scared of the moment. Being there for those guys has meant the world to me and I will cherish these past two seasons for the rest of my life.”
“We’ve got a great nucleus of this ballclub,” Thompson said. “We’ll visit with these guys and keep moving forward. Excited for the future. We’re doing some things at a high level. We have a ton of momentum, but you have to earn it. I think we’re good enough. I have no regrets. I know it’s grown. I’m excited about that. I saw a lot of growth with everybody. To be on this ride with them, I appreciate them for that. I wish it hadn’t ended for us, but nonetheless, they’ve been amazing to be with.”
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What to make of Auburn baseball’s 2026 season and Super Regional exit
By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
A lot of positive things can be said about Auburn baseball’s 2026 season.
The Tigers won 42 games, earned a national seed in the NCAA tournament and hosted a Super Regional for the second year in a row. However, those positives make the season’s ending all the more disappointing.
Auburn’s 2026 campaign ended on Saturday with a 5-3 loss to Ole Miss in the Super Regionals. The Rebels swept Auburn 2-0, the same result as Auburn’s home Super Regional against Coastal Carolina in 2025.
Given Auburn’s national seed and regular season results, expectations were reasonably high for the postseason. When you’re the No. 4 national seed for the second year in a row, anything less than a College World Series appearance is somewhat of a disappointment, at least in the minds of many fans.
Head coach Butch Thompson even said before Super Regionals that he believed the 2026 group was good enough to make the College World Series. He doubled down on that after Saturday’s loss to Ole Miss.
“I told our team we were good enough to go to Omaha and win a national championship,” Thompson said. " I’ve been working hard for a decade to say that, and I don’t stand here defeated today and not believe that."
Understanding this team’s talent makes Saturday’s loss disappointing. Despite having a deeper understanding of that than anyone else, that’s how Thompson is choosing to remember this season.
It was the second year in a row Auburn took a young team to heights rarely seen by the program. Last year was Auburn’s first ever home Super Regional and it was able to repeat that achievement this season.
Once hosting a Super Regional becomes normalized, the difficulty of the achievement isn’t always appreciated. Considering Auburn had only made four Super Regionals in its history prior to last season, hosting in back-to-back years is impressive.
There’s no denying that the program has grown rapidly over the past two seasons, both on the field and within the fanbase. Auburn broke Plainsman Park attendance records in each of its last three games, and crowds have been growing since renovations were completed prior to the 2025 season.
https://x.com/peter_rauterkus/status/2063400021261717587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2063400021261717587%7Ctwgr%5E1c727fee8c1b5166aad06c27307e3931c8c7ae97%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.al.com%2Fauburn%2F2026%2F06%2Fwhat-to-make-of-auburn-baseballs-2026-season-and-super-regional-exit.html
The program has seen a lot quick of success on multiple fronts since a disastrous 2024 season that saw Auburn finish 8-22 in SEC play and miss the postseason. The Tigers are in a position to build on that success too.
The nature of Auburn’s 2026 roster suggests that the Tigers’ College World Series window hasn’t closed yet.
Seven of Auburn’s nine starting position players on Saturday were underclassmen. Only one of those underclassmen, second baseman Chris Rembert, is eligible for the 2026 MLB Draft.
Jackson Sanders, Jake Marciano and Andreas Alvarez, three of Auburn’s top five pitchers in 2026, are all true sophomores. Thompson hasn’t given up on retaining older contributors such as Eric Guevara and Alex Petrovic either.
If Auburn can keep the core of this roster together, the Tigers will be one of the strongest teams in the country in 2026. That might not make Saturday’s loss any less painful for Auburn fans in the moment, but it’s a sign of a program that continues to trend upward.
“We’ve got a great nucleus of this ball club, and we’ll visit with these guys and keep moving forward,” Thompson said. “I am excited for the future as well.”
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Auburn baseball roster plans for 2026: Butch Thompson not depending on transfer portal
By Jerry Humphrey III
al.com
Auburn baseball’s 2025 season may have come to an end in super regionals, but head coach Butch Thompson already has a plan for next year’s roster.
With the baseball transfer portal being open until July 1, Thompson is still trusting in the corps of players he has at Auburn.
“Keeping them in mind first, call it the nucleus or whatever you want to call it,” Thompson said. “We’ll start meeting with guys tomorrow afternoon, into Monday, so hopefully by the end of Monday, we’ll be through that. We’ve already started having a few guys in, but the nucleus is first.”
https://twitter.com/i/status/2063442242044371320
“You’re not going to hear just all portal, portal, portal. And people who are doing that are older clubs that don’t have a choice. I feel like we’re doing a good job of getting them here, developing them, growing them. It’s an amazing sophomore class, and we had some freshmen help us again. And so being true to those guys and taking care of those guys properly, instead of them feeling like they got somebody over the top of them. We need to add complimentary pieces that would fill in what we lose.”
Among the returning talent, Auburn’s sophomore trio of Chris Rembert, Bub Terrell and Chase Fralick were some of the most important members of this year’s Auburn team.
Fralick’s 20 home runs this season were the most by an Auburn catcher in program history. He also led the team with 60 RBIs, and a slugging percentage of .662, as he was named a finalist for the Buster Posey Catcher of the Year Award.
Rembert earned First Team All-SEC honors this year, finishing the season with the team’s second-best .349 average and .328 average in conference play.
Freshman Ethin Bingaman dominated in his first collegiate season, driving in 49 RBIs and hitting 10 home runs. His efforts earned him Second Team All-SEC and Freshman All-SEC honors.
Junior Eric Guevara was named to the SEC All-Defensive team this season and shared what this season has meant to him as one of the team captains.
“Being there for those guys has meant the world to me. I will cherish these past two seasons for the rest of my life,” Guevara said postgame after the super regionals. “Being able to go out there with all my brothers and playing for this uniform and this university, it has been awesome. I wouldn’t change it for anything.
“It’s going to be scary times at Auburn having to play this team. I just couldn’t be any prouder of the guys and the work they have put in and the results that have shown. Of course, we wanted to win it and us dogpiling on the infield this year, but that wasn’t the case.”
Auburn fell short of the College World Series for the second straight season, falling to Ole Miss in a series sweep in the super regionals.
However, in the agony of defeat, Thompson could not be more grateful for his 2025-26 group.
“I just saw a lot of growth with everybody, and I do appreciate them,” Thompson said. “This has been one of my most joyous years. A lot of times, that’s because (Bub Terrell) over there smiling, or seeing one of these guys after we hook it up.
“The series we won on the road, last week was absolutely hard and tremendous at the same time. I was expecting it again, to be honest with you, but I’ve enjoyed since August with this team as much as anyone, I’ve been a part of. So, I guess I’ve told them, but I guess to make it public, I thank them.”
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Caldwell Column: Tough end for baseball Tigers but program has never been better
By Jason Caldwell
It wasn't the ending that the Auburn baseball Tigers were hoping for. Consistent from start to finish during the 2026 season, coach Butch Thompson's club was dominating but pitching and defense were the mainstays against the nation's toughest schedule with a young offense having its moments. Those inconsistencies at the plate wound up being too much to overcome in a pair of losses to a veteran Ole Miss club, but this young baseball team has a lot to be proud of following another successful season.
Yes, I said successful.
I have been covering Auburn baseball for 27 years. The first team I covered was in 1999. Auburn was two years removed from making the College World Series and that year the Tigers won a regional at home before falling in a Super Regional in Tallahassee. I was in Tallahassee each of the previous two years with the Tigers just to watch and taking over the beat for Inside The Auburn Tigers, I just assumed I would be making trips to Omaha every few years.
Little did I know it would be 20 years before I would get to make that trek the middle of America.
Auburn did make NCAA Tournaments every year from 1999-2005 with the exception of 2004, but from 2005 to Butch Thompson's first tournament in 2017, the Tigers made just two regionals in a 13-year stretch.
Since 2018, Auburn has won five regionals and made two trips to the College World Series.
There's no question the last two years have been disappointing to host a Super Regional at Plainsman Park and not advance to the CWS, but the program hasn't been in a better place in 30 years when Hal Baird had the Tigers rolling.
The only difference now is the game of college baseball has never been stronger. More teams are putting money into facilities and rosters than ever before, making it a challenge to compete year after year.
That's where Auburn is now, and with the potential of next year's roster the best could be yet to come. Like any program that comes up short, there are things that have to improve, but if the Tigers can keep the pieces together this could be one of the most talented teams in school history.
The first order of business will be to keep the young guys on this team intact. While it's not likely to happen, there's a chance that every player that had a significant role for this team down the stretch could return next season. To start, catcher Chase Fralick, first baseman Ethin Bingaman, left fielder Bub Terrell and right fielder Mason McCraine aren't eligible for the draft. The same is true of starting pitchers Andreas Alvarez and Jake Marciano along with relievers Jackson Sanders and LJ Cormier. That would be a great group to build around and they will be the first order of business to keep on the Plains.
Chris Rembert is a draft eligible sophomore and Brandon McCraine a draft eligible redshirt freshman. Then you have Eric Guevara, Cade Belyeu, Bristol Carter, Alex Petrovic and Ryan Hetzler that are draft eligible.
How many of those guys can Auburn keep away from the draft? That's the second order of business for the coaching staff.
You also have several signees that Auburn will need to get some good news on, starting with big Coleman Borthwick. The two-way player is expected to be a first round pick in the MLB Amateur Draft. Others guys to watch are 6-3 shortstop Jace Mataczynski from Wisconsin along with pitcher AJ Rice from Jasper, Georgia.
Auburn will also be a player in the transfer portal, but the focus will be on retaining the young talent already on this roster. Expect to see the Tigers go after more right-handed hitting with potentially another relief arm or two to fit in with the current guys on the staff.
The next few weeks will be really important as the coaching staff starts the process of building next year's team. If they can keep the pieces together, Auburn should be one of the early favorites in 2027.
No. 4 Auburn falls to Ole Miss in super regional opener:
https://auburntigers.com/news/2026/06/6/no-4-auburn-falls-to-ole-miss-in-super-regional-opener
No. 4 Auburn’s journey comes to an end vs. Ole Miss:
https://auburntigers.com/news/2026/06/7/no-4-auburns-journey-comes-to-an-end-vs-ole-miss
What to make of Auburn baseball’s 2026 season and Super Regional exit:
https://www.al.com/auburn/2026/06/what-to-make-of-auburn-baseballs-2026-season-and-super-regional-exit.html
Auburn baseball roster plans for 2026: Butch Thompson not depending on transfer portal:
https://www.al.com/auburn/2026/06/auburn-baseball-roster-plans-for-2026-butch-thompson-not-depending-on-transfer-portal.html
Caldwell Column: Tough end for baseball Tigers but program has never been better:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburns-baseball-program-is-in-a-great-spot-despite-coming-up-short-in-2026-287544651/
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Friday's Results:
No. 4 Auburn falls to Ole Miss in super regional opener
By Jeff Shearer
The largest crowd in Plainsman Park history, 10,627, saw Ole Miss hit two home runs to defeat No. 4 Auburn 6-4 Friday in the first game of their super regional.
“The two-out hits were big,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “That was the difference in the ballgame. I liked how we kept having at-bats. I really felt like we had a chance to get back in that ballgame all the way up to the last batter at the plate. I’d like for them to play with the same resolve tomorrow and hopefully get a different result. We’ll keep fighting.”
Trailing 6-3, freshman Mason McCraine led off the bottom of the ninth with a 387-foot home run that landed on the roof of the player development center beyond right field.
“I saw a pitch in the zone, trying to get the leadoff man on,” said McCraine, who was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. “We’ve been in this role before, and I think we have the team to do it.”
Ole Miss closer Walker Hooks hit Chase Fralick with one out, bringing the potential tying run to the plate. Chris Rembert and Ethin Bingaman both barreled balls to right field to end the game.
“Rembert and Bingaman, those are exactly the type of approaches you need in that moment,” Thompson said. “We’ve got to keep swinging and make a difference with the two-out stuff. That’s where they got us tonight.”
Four days after Auburn fans set the program attendance record in the Tigers’ regional final victory, they shattered it by 2,399.
Auburn starter Andreas Alvarez struck out the side in the top of the first, keeping the overflow crowd locked in from the get-go.
Ole Miss scored first with a two-out RBI single in the top of the second, taking a 1-0 lead when Brayden Randle drove in Hayden Federico.
Auburn loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second, but a double play ended the inning.
Bristol Carter singled to lead off the bottom of the third, moved to second on McCraine’s single, advanced to third when Eric Guevara was hit by a pitch, and scored on Fralick’s game-tying sacrifice fly before another double play ended the inning.
Randle delivered for the Rebels again with two outs in top of the fourth, driving in Austin Fawley, who had doubled, to give Ole Miss a 2-1 lead.
The Rebels increased their lead to 4-1 when Judd Utermark hit a two-run home run over the War Eagle Wall, his 22nd homer of the season.
Auburn answered in the bottom of fifth after a leadoff walk to McCraine and Guevara’s single to right. Rembert followed with an RBI single up the middle, scoring McCraine to trim the Rebels’ lead to 4-2 and chasing Ole Miss starter Hunter Elliott.
Alvarez (10-4) fanned 10, reaching double digit strikeouts for the fourth time this season and bringing his season total to 113.
Alvarez exited after issuing his only walk of the game with two outs in the top of the sixth, allowing five earned runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings. The Rebels’ No. 9 hitter, Collin Reuter, hit the first pitch from reliever LJ Cormier over the wall in center for a two-run home run for a 6-2 Ole Miss lead.
Cormier retired the next six hitters he faced, allowing one run on three hits in 3.1 innings while striking out four.
Auburn’s first extra base hit came in the bottom of the sixth, an RBI double from McCraine that scored Carter to cut the Rebels’ lead to 6-3.
Auburn drew six walks but the Tigers were 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base.
Ole Miss reliever Hudson Calhoun (5-3) earned the win, pitching 2.2 innings while allowing only one run. Hooks pitched the final 2.0 innings to earn his eighth save.
Needing a victory to force a winner-take-all game three on Sunday, Auburn (42-21) and Ole Miss (40-21) play game two of their super regional Saturday at 4 p.m. CT.
“We’ll be right back out here ready to go with (Alex) Petrovic,” Thompson said. “When your back is against the wall, Petro and (Jackson) Sanders are two guys we’re pointing toward tomorrow.”
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Saturday's Results:
No. 4 Auburn’s journey comes to an end vs. Ole Miss
By Jeff Shearer
Ole Miss hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of eighth inning to sweep the Auburn Super Regional, beating the No. 4 Tigers 5-3 Saturday at Plainsman Park.
“We found a way to negotiate a couple runs and got a lead. Never could build on it,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “To their credit, I’d want Alex (Petrovic) and Jackson (Sanders) on that mound for us today. A couple days in row, they did a little more offensively and we couldn’t catch a rhythm with that and then outpitched us a little bit, too. Some of that credit for slowing our offense has to go their way.”
With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Will Furniss hit a two-run homer over the wall in right to put Ole Miss ahead. Tristan Bissetta followed with a solo shot to right to give the Rebels a three-run lead heading to the ninth.
Bub Terrell led off the top of the ninth with a single off Ole Miss closer Walker Hooks, then with one out, Cade Belyeu was hit by a pitch and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Taylor Belza’s sacrifice fly scored Terrell to bring the Tigers within two, but a grounder to third ended the game to give Hooks his second save of the super regional and ninth of the season.
For the third straight game, Auburn fans set a Plainsman Park attendance record, packing the park to the tune of 10,635.
“I love the momentum we’ve built thanks to our fans,” Thompson said. “The last two weeks have been pretty awesome for us. A grind, but nonetheless a lot of good memories.”
With one out in the top of the first inning, Eric Guevera singled up the middle on the first pitch he saw but Ole Miss turned its third double play of the super regional to end the inning.
Auburn starter Alex Petrovic needed only nine pitches to retire the Rebels in the bottom of the first, benefiting from flashy defense at first, second and third base.
The visiting team in game two, Auburn led off the top of the second with singles from Chris Rembert and Ethin Bingaman, but Ole Miss starter Taylor Rabe retired the next three Tigers, two by strikeout, to end the threat.
Auburn’s impressive infield defense continued in the bottom of the second inning, with Rembert showcasing his range at second.
Petrovic recorded his first two strikeouts in the bottom of the third, setting down the Rebels in order through the first three innings.
Auburn scored a pair of runs in the top of the fourth when Terrell singled to right field with runners on the corners to bring home Rembert. When Terrell then got in a rundown between first and second, Bingaman raced home from third, beating the throw with a head-first slide for a 2-0 Auburn lead.
Shortstop Brandon McCraine joined the highlight parade in the bottom of fourth, ranging up the middle to retire Ole Miss leadoff hitter Dom Decker, then turning an inning-ending double play after a walk to help Petrovic face the minimum through four innings.
“You want the ball in a play as a pitcher, having a phenomenal defense behind you is huge,” Petrovic said. “I have so much confidence in our defense that I’m able to attack the zone, knowing they can get outs and it looks easy.”
Hayden Federico produced the Rebels’ first hit in the bottom of the fifth, but the Ole Miss center fielder wandered too far off first base and was tagged out, and Petrovic struck out the next two batters to strand a runner at third.
Ole Miss tied the score at 2-2 on Judd Utermark’s two-run double in the bottom of the sixth, ending Petrovic’s outing after 5.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits with five strikeouts.
Jackson Sanders relieved Petrovic, retiring the first two batters he faced to strand Utermark at second. Sanders struck out the side in the seventh, pitching around a pair of HBPs.
JP Robertson (5-1) relieved Rabe to start the eighth inning, retiring the first two Tigers before issuing back-to-back walks to Chase Fralick and Rembert.
Bingaman drilled an 0-1 pitch to center field but Federico saved two runs by making a leaping catch on the warning track to end the inning.
“That seemed like that was going to make it harder because they absolutely pitched it great,” Thompson said of the momentum-swinging grab. “That ball was hit really hard. They made us pay a little bit offensively, got more done, and I absolutely think they did the same thing on the mound. The combination of those two made it hard.”
Sanders (5-2) took the loss, allowing three runs in 2.0 innings. Ryan Hetzler recorded the final two outs.
One of only two teams in the country to host consecutive super regionals, Auburn (42-22) ends its season while Ole Miss (41-21) advances to the College World Series for the seventh time.
“These past two years have been the most fun I’ve had playing baseball with these guys,” said Guevara, one of Auburn’s captains. “Having young guys out there and they’re not scared of the moment. Being there for those guys has meant the world to me and I will cherish these past two seasons for the rest of my life.”
“We’ve got a great nucleus of this ballclub,” Thompson said. “We’ll visit with these guys and keep moving forward. Excited for the future. We’re doing some things at a high level. We have a ton of momentum, but you have to earn it. I think we’re good enough. I have no regrets. I know it’s grown. I’m excited about that. I saw a lot of growth with everybody. To be on this ride with them, I appreciate them for that. I wish it hadn’t ended for us, but nonetheless, they’ve been amazing to be with.”
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What to make of Auburn baseball’s 2026 season and Super Regional exit
By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
A lot of positive things can be said about Auburn baseball’s 2026 season.
The Tigers won 42 games, earned a national seed in the NCAA tournament and hosted a Super Regional for the second year in a row. However, those positives make the season’s ending all the more disappointing.
Auburn’s 2026 campaign ended on Saturday with a 5-3 loss to Ole Miss in the Super Regionals. The Rebels swept Auburn 2-0, the same result as Auburn’s home Super Regional against Coastal Carolina in 2025.
Given Auburn’s national seed and regular season results, expectations were reasonably high for the postseason. When you’re the No. 4 national seed for the second year in a row, anything less than a College World Series appearance is somewhat of a disappointment, at least in the minds of many fans.
Head coach Butch Thompson even said before Super Regionals that he believed the 2026 group was good enough to make the College World Series. He doubled down on that after Saturday’s loss to Ole Miss.
“I told our team we were good enough to go to Omaha and win a national championship,” Thompson said. " I’ve been working hard for a decade to say that, and I don’t stand here defeated today and not believe that."
Understanding this team’s talent makes Saturday’s loss disappointing. Despite having a deeper understanding of that than anyone else, that’s how Thompson is choosing to remember this season.
It was the second year in a row Auburn took a young team to heights rarely seen by the program. Last year was Auburn’s first ever home Super Regional and it was able to repeat that achievement this season.
Once hosting a Super Regional becomes normalized, the difficulty of the achievement isn’t always appreciated. Considering Auburn had only made four Super Regionals in its history prior to last season, hosting in back-to-back years is impressive.
There’s no denying that the program has grown rapidly over the past two seasons, both on the field and within the fanbase. Auburn broke Plainsman Park attendance records in each of its last three games, and crowds have been growing since renovations were completed prior to the 2025 season.
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The program has seen a lot quick of success on multiple fronts since a disastrous 2024 season that saw Auburn finish 8-22 in SEC play and miss the postseason. The Tigers are in a position to build on that success too.
The nature of Auburn’s 2026 roster suggests that the Tigers’ College World Series window hasn’t closed yet.
Seven of Auburn’s nine starting position players on Saturday were underclassmen. Only one of those underclassmen, second baseman Chris Rembert, is eligible for the 2026 MLB Draft.
Jackson Sanders, Jake Marciano and Andreas Alvarez, three of Auburn’s top five pitchers in 2026, are all true sophomores. Thompson hasn’t given up on retaining older contributors such as Eric Guevara and Alex Petrovic either.
If Auburn can keep the core of this roster together, the Tigers will be one of the strongest teams in the country in 2026. That might not make Saturday’s loss any less painful for Auburn fans in the moment, but it’s a sign of a program that continues to trend upward.
“We’ve got a great nucleus of this ball club, and we’ll visit with these guys and keep moving forward,” Thompson said. “I am excited for the future as well.”
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Auburn baseball roster plans for 2026: Butch Thompson not depending on transfer portal
By Jerry Humphrey III
al.com
Auburn baseball’s 2025 season may have come to an end in super regionals, but head coach Butch Thompson already has a plan for next year’s roster.
With the baseball transfer portal being open until July 1, Thompson is still trusting in the corps of players he has at Auburn.
“Keeping them in mind first, call it the nucleus or whatever you want to call it,” Thompson said. “We’ll start meeting with guys tomorrow afternoon, into Monday, so hopefully by the end of Monday, we’ll be through that. We’ve already started having a few guys in, but the nucleus is first.”
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“You’re not going to hear just all portal, portal, portal. And people who are doing that are older clubs that don’t have a choice. I feel like we’re doing a good job of getting them here, developing them, growing them. It’s an amazing sophomore class, and we had some freshmen help us again. And so being true to those guys and taking care of those guys properly, instead of them feeling like they got somebody over the top of them. We need to add complimentary pieces that would fill in what we lose.”
Among the returning talent, Auburn’s sophomore trio of Chris Rembert, Bub Terrell and Chase Fralick were some of the most important members of this year’s Auburn team.
Fralick’s 20 home runs this season were the most by an Auburn catcher in program history. He also led the team with 60 RBIs, and a slugging percentage of .662, as he was named a finalist for the Buster Posey Catcher of the Year Award.
Rembert earned First Team All-SEC honors this year, finishing the season with the team’s second-best .349 average and .328 average in conference play.
Freshman Ethin Bingaman dominated in his first collegiate season, driving in 49 RBIs and hitting 10 home runs. His efforts earned him Second Team All-SEC and Freshman All-SEC honors.
Junior Eric Guevara was named to the SEC All-Defensive team this season and shared what this season has meant to him as one of the team captains.
“Being there for those guys has meant the world to me. I will cherish these past two seasons for the rest of my life,” Guevara said postgame after the super regionals. “Being able to go out there with all my brothers and playing for this uniform and this university, it has been awesome. I wouldn’t change it for anything.
“It’s going to be scary times at Auburn having to play this team. I just couldn’t be any prouder of the guys and the work they have put in and the results that have shown. Of course, we wanted to win it and us dogpiling on the infield this year, but that wasn’t the case.”
Auburn fell short of the College World Series for the second straight season, falling to Ole Miss in a series sweep in the super regionals.
However, in the agony of defeat, Thompson could not be more grateful for his 2025-26 group.
“I just saw a lot of growth with everybody, and I do appreciate them,” Thompson said. “This has been one of my most joyous years. A lot of times, that’s because (Bub Terrell) over there smiling, or seeing one of these guys after we hook it up.
“The series we won on the road, last week was absolutely hard and tremendous at the same time. I was expecting it again, to be honest with you, but I’ve enjoyed since August with this team as much as anyone, I’ve been a part of. So, I guess I’ve told them, but I guess to make it public, I thank them.”
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Caldwell Column: Tough end for baseball Tigers but program has never been better
By Jason Caldwell
It wasn't the ending that the Auburn baseball Tigers were hoping for. Consistent from start to finish during the 2026 season, coach Butch Thompson's club was dominating but pitching and defense were the mainstays against the nation's toughest schedule with a young offense having its moments. Those inconsistencies at the plate wound up being too much to overcome in a pair of losses to a veteran Ole Miss club, but this young baseball team has a lot to be proud of following another successful season.
Yes, I said successful.
I have been covering Auburn baseball for 27 years. The first team I covered was in 1999. Auburn was two years removed from making the College World Series and that year the Tigers won a regional at home before falling in a Super Regional in Tallahassee. I was in Tallahassee each of the previous two years with the Tigers just to watch and taking over the beat for Inside The Auburn Tigers, I just assumed I would be making trips to Omaha every few years.
Little did I know it would be 20 years before I would get to make that trek the middle of America.
Auburn did make NCAA Tournaments every year from 1999-2005 with the exception of 2004, but from 2005 to Butch Thompson's first tournament in 2017, the Tigers made just two regionals in a 13-year stretch.
Since 2018, Auburn has won five regionals and made two trips to the College World Series.
There's no question the last two years have been disappointing to host a Super Regional at Plainsman Park and not advance to the CWS, but the program hasn't been in a better place in 30 years when Hal Baird had the Tigers rolling.
The only difference now is the game of college baseball has never been stronger. More teams are putting money into facilities and rosters than ever before, making it a challenge to compete year after year.
That's where Auburn is now, and with the potential of next year's roster the best could be yet to come. Like any program that comes up short, there are things that have to improve, but if the Tigers can keep the pieces together this could be one of the most talented teams in school history.
The first order of business will be to keep the young guys on this team intact. While it's not likely to happen, there's a chance that every player that had a significant role for this team down the stretch could return next season. To start, catcher Chase Fralick, first baseman Ethin Bingaman, left fielder Bub Terrell and right fielder Mason McCraine aren't eligible for the draft. The same is true of starting pitchers Andreas Alvarez and Jake Marciano along with relievers Jackson Sanders and LJ Cormier. That would be a great group to build around and they will be the first order of business to keep on the Plains.
Chris Rembert is a draft eligible sophomore and Brandon McCraine a draft eligible redshirt freshman. Then you have Eric Guevara, Cade Belyeu, Bristol Carter, Alex Petrovic and Ryan Hetzler that are draft eligible.
How many of those guys can Auburn keep away from the draft? That's the second order of business for the coaching staff.
You also have several signees that Auburn will need to get some good news on, starting with big Coleman Borthwick. The two-way player is expected to be a first round pick in the MLB Amateur Draft. Others guys to watch are 6-3 shortstop Jace Mataczynski from Wisconsin along with pitcher AJ Rice from Jasper, Georgia.
Auburn will also be a player in the transfer portal, but the focus will be on retaining the young talent already on this roster. Expect to see the Tigers go after more right-handed hitting with potentially another relief arm or two to fit in with the current guys on the staff.
The next few weeks will be really important as the coaching staff starts the process of building next year's team. If they can keep the pieces together, Auburn should be one of the early favorites in 2027.
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