Will Auburn baseball win its NCAA Tournament regional? Our prediction

Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser
·1 min read

AUBURN — One corner of the 2022 NCAA Tournament bracket runs through Plainsman Park.

Auburn baseball will host a regional this week for the first time since 2010. It's a pivotal moment for seventh-year coach Butch Thompson's program, which reached the College World Series three years ago but was picked to finish last in the SEC West division this year.

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Can the No. 14 seed Tigers (37-19) outlast UCLA, Florida State and Southeast Louisiana this weekend to reach a third super regional in seven years under Thompson? Here's our prediction for the Auburn regional.

Bennett Durando, Auburn beat writer

Auburn will cruise past Southeast Louisiana on Friday (6 p.m., ESPN+) and face UCLA (38-22) in the winners' bracket. In a battle of tough bullpens, Auburn's will hold strong in a low-scoring affair.

Auburn catcher Nate LaRue (28) leaves the mound after speaking with starting pitcher Hayden Mullins (20) during an NCAA college baseball game against LSU on Thursday, March 31, 2022, in Baton Rouge, La. (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate via AP)
Auburn catcher Nate LaRue (28) leaves the mound after speaking with starting pitcher Hayden Mullins (20) during an NCAA college baseball game against LSU on Thursday, March 31, 2022, in Baton Rouge, La. (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate via AP)

The Tigers will get a rematch with UCLA in the regional final after the Bruins beat Florida State a second time.

UCLA's offense will finally catch up with Auburn in the first game, forcing a decisive regional Game 7. But Auburn has been clutch all season in tense games, and they have 20 comeback wins. In the regional final, Sonny DiChiara will homer and Auburn will win a one-run game to advance to the Oregon State super regional.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn baseball in 2022 NCAA Tournament regional: Our prediction