MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — Ryan Hetzler pitched four innings of one-hit ball and C. Fralick delivered a three-run homer during a five-run second inning as Auburn defeated Milwaukee 8-1 on Sunday.

Hetzler struck out six and allowed only one earned run on a double and a single in the third inning. He did not walk a batter. The Auburn right-hander improved to 8-2 on the season as the Tigers improved to 41-20. Milwaukee fell to 27-32.

Auburn struck first in the second inning. E. Bingaman singled up the middle and C. Belyeu doubled down the right-field line to drive him in. After B. McCraine popped out, T. Belza walked and M. McCraine walked to load the bases. E. Guevara flied out to center field, scoring Belyeu on a sacrifice fly. Fralick then homered to right field, scoring Belza and M. McCraine to make it 5-0.

Milwaukee answered in the bottom of the third. J. Spence doubled down the right-field line and C. Holmes singled to center, moving Spence to third. J. Ross grounded out to shortstop, plating Spence. Holmes was then picked off second base to end the inning.

Auburn added three runs in the sixth. With one out, Bingaman walked and Belyeu was hit by a pitch. After B. McCraine struck out, Belza was hit by a pitch to load the bases. M. McCraine was then hit by a pitch to force in Bingaman. A wild pitch brought home Belyeu and advanced the other runners. Guevara added a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Belza to make it 8-1.

Hetzler was relieved by L. Cormier in the fifth. Cormier pitched two scoreless innings, striking out four. The Auburn bullpen did not allow a hit over the final five innings.

Milwaukee starter S. Ishida took the loss. He allowed three earned runs on one hit over 4 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out three. T. Arnold followed with two innings of one-hit relief, striking out one. L. Watson pitched a scoreless seventh, giving up one hit and striking out two.

For Milwaukee, Spence and Holmes each went 1 for 3 with a run and a hit, respectively. Ross drove in the Panthers’ only run. The Panthers managed only four hits in the game and struck out 14 times.

Auburn’s offense collected five hits. Fralick finished 2 for 4 with the homer and three RBIs. Belyeu doubled and scored twice. Bingaman scored twice and walked once.

The game was the second of a three-game series. Auburn had lost to Milwaukee 13-8 on Friday but rebounded to beat North Carolina State 17-13 on Saturday. Milwaukee had defeated UCF 13-6 on Saturday.

The most critical sequence came in the top of the second. After Guevara’s sacrifice fly had given Auburn a 2-0 lead, Fralick launched a 1-0 pitch over the right-field wall. The three-run blast effectively broke the game open, giving the Tigers a five-run cushion and forcing Milwaukee to play from behind against a dominant Hetzler.

Auburn’s next game is against Central Florida at home on Sunday.