The magic carpet ride that is the UW-Milwaukee baseball team’s journey through the NCAA Tournament hit some turbulence late Sunday night and early Monday morning, but the joyride isn’t over yet.
UWM will face Auburn one more time, tonight at 5 p.m. at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Alabama. The winner will advance to the Super Regionals next weekend. Tonight’s game will be televised on ESPNU. (Note: Thunderstorms in Auburn have pushed back the start of the game to 8 p.m. It’s still scheduled on ESPNU.)
This UWM team has already made history. The Panthers’ 13-8 victory Friday over Auburn – the No. 4 seeded team in the entire tournament – was UWM’s first NCAA Tournament victory since 1999. Its 13-6 victory Saturday over Central Florida was the first time the team had ever won two games in the tournament.
UWM could have won the regional title by beating Auburn in a rematch Sunday night – a game whose start was delayed by rain until 10:15 p.m. – but its lava-hot bats went cold and the Panthers lost, 8-1.
A victory tonight would put UWM in unprecedented territory: No Horizon League team has ever advanced to the Super Regionals.
UWM head coach Shaun Wegner is quietly confident that his team can compete with the best college baseball teams in the country.
“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.”
UWM’s tournament run has brought forth lots of support on social media and in the news, both locally and nationally. Wegner’s phone has been blowing up with messages from supporters.
“We appreciate the support, we feel the support, and as an alum, that makes me feel so proud,” said Wegner, who was a player on the 2010 UWM team that was the last Panther team to make the NCAA Tournament. “But now we’re getting a little more out there on the national stage.”
If UWM wins tonight, the team will travel to Oxford, Mississippi, to take on the University of Mississippi next weekend.
