The opening game of the Auburn Super Regional between the No. 4 Auburn Tigers and the No. 13 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers on June 6, 2025, delivered a dramatic, extra-inning thriller that reflected the intensity and unpredictability of NCAA postseason baseball. Before a record crowd at Plainsman Park, Coastal Carolina extended its remarkable win streak to 22 games, edging Auburn 7-6 in 10 innings to seize a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series134.
Game Overview
- Final Score: Coastal Carolina 7, Auburn 6 (10 innings)47
- Location: Plainsman Park, Auburn, AL
- Attendance: 7,891 (Plainsman Park record)1
- Series: Coastal Carolina leads 1-0
Key Moments and Game Flow
Early Innings: Coastal Carolina Power Surge
Auburn struck first in the bottom of the opening inning. Ike Irish doubled with two outs and scored on Cooper McMurray’s RBI single through the left side16. However, Coastal Carolina responded quickly. In the second inning, Blagen Pado launched a two-out solo home run to left, tying the game 1-116. The Chanticleers seized the lead in the third when Caden Bodine hit a solo shot, making it 2-116.
The pivotal fourth inning saw Pado strike again, this time with a three-run blast over the War Eagle Wall, pushing Coastal ahead 5-1. The Chanticleers added another run before Auburn’s catcher, Chase Fralick, tagged out a runner during a double steal attempt, ending the threat at 6-116.
Auburn’s Resilience: Chipping Away
Auburn began its comeback in the bottom of the fourth. Fralick doubled, advanced on a fly ball, and scored on Chris Rembert’s sacrifice fly, trimming the deficit to 6-21. In the fifth, Irish homered to cut it to 6-3, and after a nearly two-hour lightning delay in the sixth, Auburn scored again on a wild pitch and a throwing error, narrowing the gap to 6-413.
Late-Inning Drama: Auburn Ties It
The Tigers’ momentum continued in the seventh. McMurray doubled, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on Lucas Steele’s groundout. Eric Snow followed with a game-tying solo home run, electrifying the home crowd and leveling the score at 6-613. Auburn reliever Griffin Graves was dominant, striking out five and allowing no hits over three shutout innings, keeping the Tigers in the game13.
Ninth and Tenth: Missed Opportunities and Heroics
Auburn threatened in the bottom of the ninth, putting the first two batters aboard. However, a strikeout and a spectacular diving double play by Coastal’s Blake Barthol ended the inning and preserved the tie135. In the top of the 10th, Bodine delivered his second home run of the night, a go-ahead solo shot that put Coastal Carolina up 7-6135. Auburn again put the tying run in scoring position in the bottom half, but another double play sealed the win for the Chanticleers135.
Statistical Highlights
| Team | Runs | Hits | Errors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Carolina | 7 | 13 | 2 |
| Auburn | 6 | 13 | 1 |
Notable Performances
- Caden Bodine (CCU): 2 HR (including game-winner in 10th), 2 RBI135
- Blagen Pado (CCU): 2 HR, 4 RBI1
- Griffin Graves (Auburn): 3 IP, 0 H, 5 K, 0 R13
- Ike Irish (Auburn): 2-5, HR, 2 R16
- Eric Snow (Auburn): Game-tying HR in 7th, 2-5, RBI13
Turning Points
Coastal’s Early Home Runs:
Pado’s two home runs, especially his three-run shot in the fourth, set the tone and gave Coastal Carolina a cushion that proved crucial as Auburn mounted its comeback13.
Auburn’s Bullpen and Late Offense:
Graves’ shutdown relief and Auburn’s persistent scoring from the fourth through seventh innings swung momentum and energized the crowd13.
Defensive Gems:
Blake Barthol’s diving double plays in the ninth and tenth innings were game-savers, directly preventing Auburn from walking off with a win135.
Bodine’s 10th-Inning Blast:
With the game deadlocked and tension high, Bodine’s second homer was the decisive blow, capping a memorable night for the Chanticleers135.
Weather Delay and Its Impact
A nearly two-hour lightning delay in the sixth inning split the contest into two distinct phases. While such interruptions can sap a team’s energy or disrupt rhythm, Auburn emerged from the break with renewed vigor, scoring in three consecutive innings to erase a five-run deficit13. The Tigers’ ability to regroup and rally after the delay was a testament to their resilience.
Coaches’ and Players’ Reactions
Auburn head coach Butch Thompson praised his team’s fight:
“We got down. The two big swings by (Blagen) Pado were absolutely the difference in the game. Those guys are really good. I really was impressed with our guys. Got it back tied. We had a chance to win the ballgame but could not push it across the finish line.”1
Auburn reliever Griffin Graves reflected on the atmosphere and his performance:
“I knew I could go out there, beat those hitters and have confidence. I was out there trusting my guys, knew they were going to be behind me no matter what happened. I enjoyed every moment of it.”1
What’s Next
With the loss, Auburn must now win two straight to keep its College World Series hopes alive. Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. CT16. Coastal Carolina, riding the nation’s longest active win streak and boasting the only 50-win record left in the tournament, needs just one more victory to punch its ticket to Omaha6.
Game Significance
This contest was historic for Auburn, marking the first time the program has hosted a Super Regional. The Tigers’ comeback effort, the late-inning heroics, and the electric crowd all contributed to a postseason classic1. For Coastal Carolina, the win not only extended their streak but also demonstrated their poise and ability to deliver in clutch moments, especially on the road in a hostile environment36.
Conclusion
Game 1 of the Auburn Super Regional delivered everything a college baseball fan could hope for: power hitting, clutch pitching, defensive brilliance, and late-night drama. Coastal Carolina’s 7-6 victory in extra innings showcased why both teams were among the nation’s elite, setting the stage for a must-watch remainder of the series.
- https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2025/06/no-4-auburn-falls-to-no-13-coastal-carolina-in-extras-in-super-regional-opener
- https://goccusports.com/sports/baseball/stats/2025/auburn/boxscore/23381
- https://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/article/2025-06-07/oregon-state-walks-coastal-carolina-survives-day-1-ncaa-baseball-super-regionals
- https://www.espn.com/college-baseball/boxscore/_/gameId/401777904
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72aA3q3-aRk
- https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/baseball/2025/06/06/ncaa-baseball-scores-auburn-coastal-carolina-super-regionals/84078774007/
- https://www.espn.com/college-baseball/game/_/gameId/401777904
- https://goccusports.com/news/2025/6/5/baseballs-super-regional-quest-starts-friday-night-at-auburn.aspx
AI Disclaimer:
This post was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, readers are encouraged to consult official box scores, team sites, and reputable sports news outlets for confirmation and further details.
