AUBURN, Ala. (Interstat) — Charlie Marion hit a home run and drove in four runs as the Milwaukee Panthers defeated the Auburn Tigers 13-8 on Friday, May 29, at Samford Stadium – Hitchcock Field at Plainsman Park.

Milwaukee, which entered with a 26-31 record, improved to 27-31. Auburn, which had won four of its previous five games, fell to 38-21.

Marion, the Panthers’ right fielder, went 2 for 5 with a solo home run in the fourth inning and a walk with the bases loaded in the ninth. The performance continued a productive stretch for Marion, who had multiple hits in three of his previous four games, including a 3-for-5 game with a home run and two RBIs against Wright State on May 22.

Milwaukee scored 13 runs on 16 hits, its highest total since a 14-8 win over Oakland on May 16. Auburn managed nine hits and scored eight runs, but could not overcome a 13-0 deficit after four innings.

The Panthers erupted for four runs in the top of the first. After two quick outs, Marion singled, Sean O’Connell singled and Chase Kibler drove in Marion with a single. Bradyn Horn followed with a three-run home run to left field.

Milwaukee added a run in the second when Joey Spence doubled and scored on a double by Holmes, then took a 6-0 lead after Marion grounded into a double play that scored another run.

The biggest blow came in the fourth. With two runners on base, Marion hit a three-run homer to center field off reliever Chancellor, extending the lead to 10-0. The Panthers tacked on three more runs in the inning on a single by O’Connell and a three-run homer by Horn.

Milwaukee starting pitcher Gavin Theis allowed three earned runs over four innings but did not give up a hit, striking out two. Riley Peterson relieved and pitched five innings, allowing five earned runs on no hits while striking out four. Peterson’s line included four walks and three hit batters.

Auburn’s Ethin Bingaman hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning to put the Tigers on the board. Eric Guevara added a two-run homer in the seventh and finished 1 for 4 with four RBIs. Auburn also got a solo home run from C. Fralick in the fifth.

Milwaukee’s Bradyn Horn finished 1 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs. Joey Spence went 3 for 5 with an RBI and John Hadley VI went 3 for 5 with an RBI. The Panthers used three pitchers in the game; reliever Gavin Theis earned the win.

Auburn’s bullpen struggled, with three pitchers combining to allow five earned runs over five innings. Starter J. Marciano was lifted after the first inning, and reliever L. Cormier gave up four runs in 1 2/3 innings.

The game included a 36-minute weather delay in the bottom of the sixth inning. Play resumed at 2:36 p.m.

Milwaukee scored its final run in the top of the ninth when Marion walked with the bases loaded to force in a run. Auburn answered with a sacrifice fly by Guevara in the bottom of the ninth to account for the final margin.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Milwaukee 8, Auburn 5. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Auburn with a 90.80 percent probability to win. Auburn had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 7.5.