Auburn earns one of the top NCAA baseball seeds, faces a loaded regional featuring NC State, Stetson, and red-hot Central Connecticut in a tough opener.
Auburn baseball’s 2025 season didn’t just redeem last year’s disappointment — it redefined what this program is capable of. After finishing at the bottom of the SEC in 2024, the Tigers surged back into national relevance, beginning with a stunning opening series win over Vanderbilt and culminating in a No. 4 national seed. It’s Auburn’s first top-eight placement since 2003 and perhaps the clearest sign that this year’s roster could be one for the ages. But with contenders like NC State, Stetson, and Central Connecticut rolling into Plainsman Park, the path to Omaha is anything but guaranteed.
Auburn’s Redemption and Rising Stakes
There’s a quiet confidence around this Auburn team — a calm forged not by dominance, but by resilience. A year ago, they were an afterthought in the SEC. Now, they’re the No. 4 national seed, armed with balance, depth, and the kind of belief that only comes from beating the odds. From that first series win over Vanderbilt, the Tigers signaled that this wasn’t going to be a slow rebuild. It was a resurgence — immediate and emphatic.
Friday night can’t get here soon enough!#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/9q8EUhchek
— Auburn Baseball (@AuburnBaseball) May 28, 2025
Led by standout hitter Ike Irish, who punished SEC pitching all spring with a near-.400 average and 16 home runs, Auburn’s lineup can go toe-to-toe with anyone. But the challenge now is consistency. This regional won’t offer many breathers. NC State brings ACC pedigree and a glove-first mentality. Stetson, with 40 wins, brings power, experience, and some of the best pitching in the field. Central Connecticut may be a four-seed, but their .334 team batting average suggests they’re more dangerous than their ranking implies. For Auburn, this is a chance not just to win — but to prove they’ve truly arrived.
A Regional Field Stacked with Storylines
This regional is as compelling as any in the bracket, not because of pure rankings, but because of what each team represents. NC State, the perennial ACC scrapper, brings defensive excellence and postseason edge, headlined by shortstop Justin DeCriscio — a field general with just six errors all year. They’ll be a challenge for any offense that takes them lightly.
Stetson, meanwhile, boasts the best pitcher in the regional in left-hander Jonathan Gonzalez. After missing last season with injury, Gonzalez has been electric — his 1.95 ERA, 101 strikeouts, and 49% whiff rate on his changeup are elite at any level. Add in leadoff dynamo Isaiah Barkett, who returns to face his former team (NC State) with a .380 average and 30 steals, and you’ve got a team built to disrupt.
AUBURN REGIONAL
(4) AUBURN CENTRAL CONN. ST. STETSON NC STATE#RoadToOmaha pic.twitter.com/a4kuLxSRNm
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) May 26, 2025
And then there’s Central Connecticut — a team that leads the nation in batting average and features the nation’s leading hitter in Aidan Redahan. His .458 average and near-5% strikeout rate speak to rare bat control. If you’re looking for a Cinderella, the Blue Devils have the bats to be one. For the casual fan, these names may not register. But for those paying attention, this regional is as rich in talent as it is in narrative.
Auburn’s Moment to Cement Its Rise
Great teams don’t just emerge — they endure. For Auburn, this tournament is a test of both. The ghosts of 2024 are gone, replaced by a team that believes, competes, and wins. The top-eight seed isn’t a prize — it’s a challenge. A call to hold serve against teams hungry for their own upsets. Every pitch will matter. Every at-bat will echo deeper meaning.
The Tigers have the depth. They have the stars. And now, they have the stage. All that remains is execution — and in college baseball, that’s a story only the next nine innings can tell. Whether it’s a final farewell or a launching pad to Omaha, Auburn now gets to write the ending to a season already steeped in redemption.
