Auburn Tigers Extend Regional Championship With Gritty Effort But Ultimately Fall to Fifth-Seeded Florida State in Do-or-Die Clash

The Auburn Tigers entered Sunday’s Regional Final in Tallahassee knowing the stakes: win twice against No. 5 overall seed Florida State to advance to the Super Regionals, or see their season end on the Seminoles’ home field. With backs against the wall, Auburn showed remarkable resolve by winning the first game of the day to force a decisive if-necessary Game 7. But their tank ultimately ran dry in the nightcap, as Florida State pulled away late for a 6-3 victory that ended Auburn’s postseason run.

In the early game, Auburn played with the urgency and sharpness of a team unwilling to go quietly. Sophomore right-hander Drew Nelson delivered one of the best performances of his career, throwing six innings of two-run ball and keeping the Seminoles’ potent lineup in check. Auburn’s offense, which had been streaky at times throughout the season, came alive just when it mattered most. Ike Irish provided a key two-run single in the fourth inning to give Auburn a lead it would not relinquish. The Tigers added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh, holding off a late Florida State rally to win 5-3 and force the winner-take-all matchup.

That victory energized Auburn’s dugout, fans, and coaching staff. The belief was real. The Tigers had already shown they could handle the pressure of elimination. They now had momentum—and in baseball, momentum can be a powerful force.

However, in the second game, Florida State came out with renewed focus and clarity, understanding the importance of avoiding a monumental upset on their home turf. The Seminoles quickly jumped on Auburn starter Hayden Murphy, plating two runs in the bottom of the first inning on a double by James Tibbs III and a sacrifice fly from Cam Smith. Florida State’s lineup, which had been relatively quiet in the day’s earlier loss, looked dialed in from the jump.

Auburn didn’t back down. In the top of the third, the Tigers responded with a three-run inning to take a 3-2 lead. Bryson Ware continued his strong postseason with a solo homer to lead off the frame. Later, Caden Green and Bobby Peirce each delivered clutch RBI hits that ignited the traveling Auburn faithful and quieted the home crowd momentarily. It felt, once again, like Auburn’s magic was back.

But Florida State, as it has all season, remained composed and resilient. The Seminoles tied the game in the fourth with a solo shot from Colton Vincent and then retook the lead in the sixth inning thanks to some aggressive baserunning and timely hitting. Auburn reliever Kaleb Cothran, who had been effective for much of the postseason, left a pitch over the plate that Florida State’s Jaime Ferrer didn’t miss, driving in the go-ahead run with a line-drive single to left.

From there, Florida State’s bullpen took over. Conner Whittaker and Brennan Oxford combined to shut out the Tigers over the final four innings, stranding multiple runners and escaping a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. Auburn had its chances to tie or even retake the lead, but couldn’t capitalize against Florida State’s experienced arms.

The Seminoles tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth via a sacrifice bunt followed by a two-out RBI single from Marco Dinges. That made it 6-3, putting Auburn in a difficult position with only three outs to go. In the top of the ninth, Auburn got a leadoff walk from Justin Kirby, giving a glimmer of hope. But the Tigers’ next three batters were retired in order, the final out coming on a groundout to shortstop. Just like that, the season was over.

For Auburn, the loss stung deeply—not just because it ended a promising postseason run, but because the Tigers had fought so hard, so valiantly, only to fall just short. Head coach Butch Thompson was emotional after the game, praising his players’ character and toughness in extending the Regional to the limit.

“I couldn’t be prouder of this group,” Thompson said. “They gave everything they had today, and all season long. To win the first game against a team like Florida State and give ourselves a chance, that’s all you can ask for. We just came up a few hits short.”

Auburn finishes the season with a 36-24 record, including a 15-15 mark in SEC play. The Tigers were projected as a bubble team late in the regular season but earned their way into the NCAA Tournament with a strong showing in the SEC Tournament and a late surge. Their draw in the Tallahassee Regional was viewed as one of the toughest in the country, with Florida State hosting and Alabama and Stetson also in the field. Yet Auburn battled through adversity and eliminated both in-state rival Alabama and Stetson to reach the Regional Final.

The Tigers leaned heavily on their upperclassmen throughout the postseason. Bryson Ware, in his final college game, capped off a stellar Auburn career by hitting his 22nd home run of the season. His leadership and steady bat were instrumental in the team’s success. Sophomore stars like Ike Irish and Caden Green also rose to the occasion, giving Auburn fans optimism about the future.

Pitching-wise, the staff navigated injuries and inconsistency all season but came together when it mattered most. Drew Nelson’s gutsy start in the elimination game was emblematic of the team’s determination. Even in the final loss, Auburn pitchers held a dangerous Florida State offense in check for much of the game before fatigue and depth became factors.

For Florida State, the win propels them into the Super Regionals, where they’ll host a red-hot opponent. The Seminoles improved to 45-14 on the season and showed why they earned a top-five national seed. Their lineup, featuring multiple All-ACC performers, eventually wore down Auburn’s pitching staff and found enough offense to secure the Regional crown. Coach Link Jarrett applauded Auburn’s effort, calling them “one of the toughest teams we’ve faced all year.”

“They don’t give you anything easy,” Jarrett said. “We knew after the first game that we’d have to play near-perfect baseball in Game 2, and thankfully we did enough to survive. Auburn deserves a lot of credit—they fought until the very last pitch.”

As the Tigers now shift their attention to offseason evaluations and roster changes, several players may enter the MLB Draft or the transfer portal. Still, the experience gained by younger players in this postseason run could prove invaluable. Thompson hinted at a “bright future” during his postgame remarks and suggested Auburn would be aggressive in reloading the roster for another run in 2026.

“We’ve got the foundation,” he said. “We’re going to build on this. We’ve got young guys who got their first taste of postseason baseball, and they’re hungry now. We’ll be back.”

The ending may not have been what Auburn hoped for, but the journey itself was meaningful. From navigating a rugged SEC schedule to making noise in one of the NCAA Tournament’s toughest regionals, the Tigers once again proved they belong among college baseball’s top programs. They didn’t quit, even when the odds were stacked against them. They played with pride, purpose, and passion—an identity that has become synonymous with Auburn baseball under Butch Thompson’s leadership.

And while they fell three runs short on Sunday night in Tallahassee, they earned something that can’t be measured by wins and losses: respect.