Chase Fralick hit a three-run home run and Auburn's pitching staff was dominant as the Tigers defeated the Milwaukee Panthers 8-1 on Sunday in a game played at Plainsman Park, forcing a winner-take-all game in the NCAA tournament's Auburn regional final.

Auburn broke the game open with a five-run second inning. The scoring started when Cade Belyeu hit an RBI double. After an Eric Guevara sacrifice fly made it 2-0, Fralick blasted a three-run shot to cap the rally. Fralick finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBIs. The Tigers added three more runs in the sixth inning, capitalizing on walks and hit batters, with Guevara adding his second RBI on another sacrifice fly. Belyeu went 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Ethin Bingaman was 1-for-3 and also scored twice.

The Tigers received a strong performance from their pitching staff. Ryan Hetzler started the game and pitched four innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out six. LJ Cormier took over and was nearly untouchable, throwing five scoreless innings of one-hit ball and striking out eight to close out the game.

Milwaukee was held in check. The Panthers' offense, which had not been held to a single run in its previous 41 games, managed its only score in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI groundout by Grant Ross that scored Joey Spence. Spence had the team's only extra-base hit with a double and finished 1-for-3.

Up next: Auburn hosts Milwaukee in the Auburn regional final on Monday at 6 p.m. ET.

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