The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team will play Auburn on June 1 at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Alabama, with the winner advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals next weekend. The game was originally scheduled for 5 p.m., but thunderstorms have delayed the start to 8 p.m.; it will be televised on ESPNU.
The Panthers have already made history in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Their 13-8 victory over Auburn on Friday marked UWM’s first tournament win since 1999, and their subsequent 13-6 win against Central Florida was the first time the team has ever won two games in a single tournament run.
UWM could have secured the regional title by defeating Auburn again in a rematch late Sunday night, but after a rain delay pushed back the start until 10:15 p.m., UWM lost 8-1 as its offense struggled. A win tonight would place UWM in unprecedented territory; no Horizon League team has ever advanced to the Super Regionals.
Head coach Shaun Wegner said his team is prepared for tonight’s challenge. “Our guys no doubt have earned this opportunity, and not only earned it but have taken advantage of it,” Wegner told Fox6 News Monday afternoon. “These guys, they’re ready. I don’t care if we’re called Cinderella, belle of the ball, whatever it is, I’m just glad we’re in the tournament. Once you’re in the tournament, you have an opportunity. If we can take care of business tonight, we’re one of the final 32 teams that are remaining. It’s an exciting opportunity, it’s one that we’re ready for, and I hope we can go execute our game plan.”
Wegner, who played on the 2010 UWM team that last made the NCAA Tournament, said support for the Panthers has grown locally and nationally. “We appreciate the support, we feel the support, and as an alum, that makes me feel so proud,” Wegner said. “But now we’re getting a little more out there on the national stage.”
If UWM wins tonight’s game against Auburn, they will travel to Oxford, Mississippi next weekend to face the University of Mississippi.