AUBURN, Ala. (Interstat) — Jackson Sanders pitched five innings of three-hit relief to lead the Auburn Tigers to an 8-3 victory over the Milwaukee Panthers on Monday night.

Sanders entered with a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning and struck out eight while allowing one earned run. He lowered his ERA after two previous relief appearances this season in which he allowed one run over 5.1 innings. Auburn improved to 42-20, while Milwaukee fell to 27-33.

The Panthers jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning without recording a hit in the official play-by-play, a quirk of the game log. Milwaukee added two more runs in the fourth on a two-run home run by John Hadley VI, giving the visitors a 3-2 lead. Hadley finished 2-for-4 with a double and the homer.

Auburn tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run by catcher Chase Fralick, who went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. The Tigers then exploded for five more runs in the inning, capitalizing on walks, a wild pitch and a double by B. Terrell that broke the tie. Ethin Bingaman added an RBI single earlier, and C. Rembert scored the go-ahead run after being hit by a pitch.

Milwaukee starter Riley Peterson threw four scoreless innings, allowing no hits and one unearned run, striking out two. But the Panthers bullpen struggled. After Peterson exited, Tristan Arnold, Aiden Fishnick and Lucas Watson combined for 2.1 innings, giving up a run while walking five.

Sanders retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced after entering for Jake Marciano, who had allowed six hits and two earned runs over four innings. Marciano struck out six.

The Panthers got a solo homer from Charlie Marion in the eighth, his third hit of the game and first RBI. Marion went 3-for-4. But Sanders finished with a scoreless ninth, striking out two more.

Auburn’s defense turned two double plays, including one in the first inning that erased a Milwaukee baserunner. The Tigers also capitalized on a Milwaukee throwing error in the third inning that allowed an unearned run.

The game marked the third meeting between the teams in four days. Auburn lost 13-8 on Friday in Milwaukee before winning 8-1 on Sunday. The Panthers had won five of their previous seven games entering Monday, while Auburn had lost two of three.

Milwaukee threatened in the eighth when Marion homered and Palkowski singled, but a double play ended the inning. In the ninth, pinch hitter SCHMIDT doubled with one out, but Spence flied out and Holmes struck out to end the game.

Auburn’s victory extended its winning streak over Milwaukee to two games. The Tigers have now won four of their last six overall. Milwaukee dropped to 12 games below .500.

No betting line or over-under information was available.