Auburn’s Late Rally Falls Short as No. 9 Tigers Eliminated by No. 8 Duke in NCAA Super Regional Heartbreaker

Auburn’s dream of returning to the College World Series ended in painful fashion as the No. 9 Tigers fell just short in their comeback attempt against No. 8 Duke in the NCAA Super Regional. What started as a promising journey through the 2025 postseason concluded with a frustrating sense of what might have been, as the Tigers’ valiant push in the late innings couldn’t overcome the early deficit in the deciding game of the best-of-three series.

The atmosphere in Durham was electric, with a sold-out crowd at Jack Coombs Field bearing witness to a contest that embodied the intensity and unpredictability of college baseball in June. For Auburn, the loss marked the end of an otherwise outstanding season that saw the program establish itself among the elite in the SEC and nationally, only to have its momentum halted one game shy of Omaha.

Duke jumped out to an early lead, taking advantage of a shaky start from Auburn’s pitching staff. Starter Grayson Hitt, who had been solid all season, struggled to locate his pitches in the opening frames, and the Blue Devils capitalized. An RBI double in the first inning followed by a two-run homer in the second put Duke up 3-0, a lead they would not relinquish despite Auburn’s relentless pursuit.

Offensively, the Tigers were stymied by Duke ace left-hander Michael Longworth, who delivered a masterclass on the mound. Longworth mixed his pitches brilliantly, changing speeds and hitting corners to keep Auburn hitters guessing. He retired nine of the first ten batters he faced and didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning. Auburn’s offense, which had been explosive during the regional round, looked uncharacteristically subdued during the early innings.

Auburn’s first real opportunity came in the fifth inning when Bryson Ware worked a walk and Ike Irish followed with a single to right. With runners on first and second and one out, the Tigers had a chance to seize momentum. But a flyout and a groundout ended the threat, and frustration began to mount in the Auburn dugout.

Meanwhile, Duke continued to tack on runs. A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth and a solo shot in the sixth extended their lead to 5-0. The Blue Devils played sharp, fundamental baseball, and their defensive execution was flawless, robbing Auburn of several hard-hit balls that could have changed the complexion of the game.

Still, Auburn refused to go quietly. In the top of the seventh, the Tigers finally broke through. Bobby Peirce led off with a double to the gap in left-center, and after a strikeout, Irish delivered again with a single up the middle to score Peirce. That run ignited the Auburn dugout and gave the visiting fans something to cheer about for the first time all day.

The real drama, however, unfolded in the eighth. Down 5-1, Auburn strung together its best inning of the game. Kason Howell doubled to start the frame, and Cole Foster followed with a walk. With two on and no outs, Duke turned to its bullpen, bringing in closer Carson Wells in an attempt to stifle the rally. But Auburn’s bats were heating up. Peirce drove in Howell with a single, and after a wild pitch moved runners to second and third, freshman Chris Stanfield laced a two-run single through the left side, cutting the deficit to one.

Suddenly, it was 5-4, and Auburn had the go-ahead run at the plate. The Tigers’ dugout erupted, fans behind the third-base line pounded the railing, and Duke’s once-comfortable lead had evaporated. Irish, who had been the most consistent hitter of the weekend, stepped up with two outs and a runner on. He worked a full count before lining a sharp grounder to second that was fielded cleanly, ending the inning and the rally.

As the ninth inning began, Duke clung to its slim lead and turned again to Wells, who returned to the mound looking more composed. Auburn sent the top of the order to the plate, needing just one run to tie. Foster flied out to deep right to begin the inning, and Peirce was hit by a pitch to bring the go-ahead run to the plate again. The crowd was tense, every pitch drawing gasps or cheers.

Stanfield, already with two RBIs, tried to keep the magic alive, but he fouled out to first base in a tense at-bat. It all came down to Irish once more. Auburn’s sophomore slugger, who had carried much of the offensive load all weekend, dug in with the weight of the Tigers’ season on his shoulders. On a 2-1 pitch, he turned on a fastball and drove it to deep center. For a brief moment, it looked like the ball might clear the wall, but Duke center fielder Mason Knight timed his jump perfectly and pulled it back in just short of the fence.

Just like that, Auburn’s season was over.

The loss was a crushing one for a team that had shown so much resilience throughout the year. Head coach Butch Thompson gathered his players in shallow left field after the game, speaking to them in a tight circle as emotions swirled. Several players fought back tears, others sat quietly, staring at the field where their season had just ended.

“You always remember the teams that fight, and this one never stopped,” Thompson said afterward. “We came up short today, but I couldn’t be prouder of how this group represented Auburn University. They battled, they grew, and they left it all out there.”

Auburn finishes the 2025 season with a 44-20 record, another 40-win campaign under Thompson that further solidifies the program’s status as a perennial postseason contender. The Tigers had advanced out of the regional in commanding fashion, beating Southern Miss and NC State, and had every reason to believe Omaha was within reach. But baseball, especially in the postseason, offers no guarantees.

The loss also marks the end of the collegiate careers of several key contributors, including Peirce, Foster, and Howell. All three seniors played pivotal roles in Auburn’s deep run and will be remembered for their leadership and consistency. For underclassmen like Irish and Stanfield, the experience provides a valuable foundation for the future.

Duke, meanwhile, advances to the College World Series for the first time since 1961, a historic achievement for the Blue Devils’ program. Their fans stormed the field in celebration after Knight’s game-ending catch, draping their players in blue and white flags as they reveled in the moment.

For Auburn, the offseason begins with reflection and optimism. There is disappointment, certainly, but also a recognition of what was accomplished. The Tigers faced adversity throughout the year—injuries, road slumps, and midseason struggles—and answered the bell each time. Their run through the SEC schedule, highlighted by series wins over LSU, Arkansas, and Texas A&M, proved their toughness. Their regional sweep showed their talent.

What will linger most, though, is how close they came. Just a few more feet on Irish’s final swing, and the Tigers might have been heading to Omaha instead of heading home.

“It’s tough right now,” Irish said. “We wanted to be that team, the one to get back to Omaha. But I think we set a standard this year. And we’ll be back. I promise we’ll be back.”

The quiet resolve in his voice echoed the sentiment shared by much of the Auburn fanbase—a sense of pride in the journey, even if it didn’t end with the celebration they had hoped for. The 2025 Tigers may not have reached the final stage, but they left a mark, and that mark will serve as motivation for what comes next.