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NO: Auburn Tigers Conclude the Regular Season with a Walk-Off by Peralta
AUBURN, Ala. — With the game knotted, the crowd on edge, and postseason implications looming, it was freshman infielder Carlos Peralta who emerged as the unexpected hero. His walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth lifted the No. 17 Auburn Tigers to a dramatic 5–4 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs, sealing a pivotal series sweep and an exclamation point on a regular season filled with grit, growth, and clutch performances.
This wasn’t just another win—it was a defining moment for a team that has battled adversity, exceeded expectations, and now heads into the SEC Tournament with momentum on its side.
Saturday night’s matchup began with the kind of intensity expected from a conference rivalry. Both Auburn and Mississippi State entered the series finale seeking to sharpen their edge for the postseason. Auburn, sitting third in the SEC West, aimed to lock in a top-four seed for the tournament, while Mississippi State looked to avoid a slide that could affect regional hosting opportunities.
From the first pitch, fans at Plainsman Park could sense the stakes were high. Auburn head coach Butch Thompson, facing his former team, called it “one of the most emotionally charged games of the year.”
“It felt like a postseason game,” Thompson said postgame. “The guys knew what was on the line, and you saw it in every at-bat, every pitch. And then Carlos—what a moment for that young man.”
The game-winning moment came after a tension-filled ninth inning that had all the elements of baseball drama. With two outs and a runner on third, Peralta—who had entered the game in the seventh as a defensive substitution—stepped up to the plate. The freshman from Miami, Florida had only 14 at-bats in SEC play entering the contest. But with the Tigers’ season finale hanging in the balance, he delivered a clean line drive into left-center that brought pinch-runner Jace Dean home and sent the crowd into a frenzy.
“I just told myself to breathe,” Peralta said, barely able to contain his grin after the game. “Coach always tells us to stay ready for our moment. I didn’t know it would be tonight, but I was ready.”
His teammates mobbed him at first base as the celebration poured out of the dugout. The walk-off marked Auburn’s fifth of the season and arguably its most meaningful—capping a 39–17 regular season, including a 17–13 mark in conference play.
Auburn’s success on Saturday wasn’t just about the final swing. It was a total team effort. Starting pitcher Mason Bright went 6.1 innings, scattering six hits and allowing just two earned runs. The bullpen held steady, with relievers Carter Harris and Nate LaRue combining for 2.2 scoreless innings to keep the game tied at four.
Offensively, Auburn showed its trademark resilience. Down 3–1 in the fifth inning, the Tigers rallied with back-to-back doubles from Ike Irish and Cooper Weiss, followed by a sacrifice fly from Bobby Pierce to even the score. Mississippi State briefly reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh, but a solo blast from catcher Nate Moss tied the game once more in the bottom half.
“That’s who we are,” said Weiss, who went 2-for-4 on the night. “We’ve had our backs against the wall all season, and we keep finding ways to fight.”
The walk-off win secured a 10-game winning streak for Auburn heading into the SEC Tournament—its longest such streak under Butch Thompson. The Tigers are likely to earn a top-five seed and could be poised to host a regional depending on their performance in Hoover next week.
With the offense peaking, the bullpen rounding into form, and Peralta’s emergence adding depth to the infield rotation, the Tigers are shaping into a legitimate contender.
“We’re not done,” said Moss. “This is just the beginning. We’ve got big goals.”
Thompson echoed that sentiment, noting the importance of peaking at the right time. “Baseball is about timing—on the field and in the season,” he said. “We’re playing our best ball right now, and we’re going to keep that going.”
For Carlos Peralta, the walk-off was the culmination of months of quiet work behind the scenes. Recruited as a depth piece in Auburn’s 2024 class, he arrived with modest expectations but a strong work ethic.
“He’s the kind of kid who just shows up early and stays late,” said hitting coach Gabe Gross. “He doesn’t ask for attention—he just puts in the work. To see it pay off in that moment? That’s what coaching is all about.”
Peralta credits veteran players like Weiss and Moss for helping him stay mentally ready, even when his name wasn’t called often. “They always told me, ‘You’re one swing away from making your mark,’” he said.
Now, with the postseason approaching, Peralta might just play a bigger role than anyone expected
With the regular season concluded, the SEC Tournament bracket is nearly set. Auburn’s sweep of Mississippi State could elevate them to the No. 4 seed, granting a crucial first-round bye.
Potential first-game opponents include Texas A&M, Kentucky, or South Carolina—all teams Auburn has played tightly this season. But with a pitching rotation led by Bright, Will Cannon, and freshman sensation Drew Batchelor, the Tigers feel confident in their chances.
“The way we’re swinging the bats, and the way the pitching staff has stepped up—there’s no one we fear,” said Thompson. “Respect everyone, but fear no one.”
Saturday also marked Senior Day for six Tigers, including Pierce, Harris, and LaRue. Before the game, a heartfelt ceremony honored the contributions of the veterans, with families joining players on the field for photos, hugs, and tears.
“It’s been the best four years of my life,” said LaRue. “To finish it here, with this kind of win, in front of these fans—I couldn’t ask for more.”
The emotional weight of the night wasn’t lost on the team.
“We wanted to win this one for the seniors,” said Irish. “They’ve given everything to this program.”
The win could also have national implications for Auburn’s postseason seeding. D1Baseball projects the Tigers as a potential regional host, and the sweep of a ranked opponent only bolsters their résumé.
With a strong showing in the SEC Tournament, Auburn could even push for a national seed—something that would guarantee home-field advantage through the Super Regionals.
“We know what’s at stake,” said Thompson. “But we’re just taking it one pitch at a time.”
One of the defining features of Auburn’s 2025 season has been the energy from the Plainsman Park faithful. Saturday’s attendance of 4,329 was the second-highest of the season, and the roars from the crowd after Peralta’s walk-off were deafening.
“This is the best fan base in college baseball,” said Moss. “They bring it every night, and they helped us win this one.”
Auburn officials confirmed that the team has broken multiple attendance records this year, including average home crowd and season ticket renewals.
Auburn will head to Hoover, Alabama on Tuesday for the SEC Tournament. Their first game is scheduled for Wednesday, with the final bracket released on Sunday night.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see whether the Tigers’ late-season surge can translate into a deep postseason run.
As for Peralta, he’s just grateful for the opportunity.
“I’ll never forget this night,” he said. “But we’ve got more work to do.”
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