AUBURN, Ala. — A capacity crowd of 4,096 packed Plainsman Park on Friday to see the Auburn’s first NCAA regional appearance since 2005, with roughly 1,500 more fans seated on the hill beyond the centerfield fence and perched on the parking ramp next to the stadium.

More than just the June humidity made them sweat things out.

Top-seeded Auburn had some nervous moments but ultimately pulled out a 9-7 win against fourth-seeded Jacksonville State, the same score as when teams played two weeks ago in the regular season.

Dan Gamache, Justin Fradejas and Casey McElroy all homered for the Tigers (41-19), who needed everything they had to shake the pesky Gamecocks (32-25).

“I thought we showed some true grit and some true character in finding a way to win tonight,” Auburn coach John Pawlowski said. “Nothing really came easy for us. Jacksonville State, they gave us, as they did the first time we played them, everything we can handle.”

The Tigers advance in the winners bracket to play at 7 ET tonight against second-seeded Clemson (39-21), a 10-1 winner against Southern Miss earlier Friday. Auburn will start left-hander Grant Dayton (8-2, 4.33 ERA) against Clemson’s Casey Harman (6-2, 4.14 ERA).

The game pits Pawlowski against Clemson coach Jack Leggett, who gave him his coaching start in 1994. Clemson has advanced to the super regional eight times under Leggett’s watch, with five trips to the College World Series.

“That’s what championship baseball is all about,” Pawlowski said. “That’s what playing in the regional is about is tough challenges and tough teams.”

Friday was no breeze for Auburn, which was out-hit by Jacksonville State 13-9 and trailed twice in the early innings. It kept the enormous crowd at bay.

“I never thought we allowed it to ever get rolling, because it seemed like every time momentum shifted in their favor, we answered,” Gamecocks coach Jim Case said. “It never really got crazy.”

Things finally amped up in the fifth when the Tigers took a 5-4 lead on Fradejas’ two-run homer off Jacksonville State starter Austin Lucas. It was Fradejas’ second this year and first since the season opener against Southeast Missouri.

“It’s been a while,” said Fradejas, Auburn’s leadoff man. “We joke about it a lot, so it does put a smile on my face. I’m not that kind of hitter. I’m the kind who’s going to hit the ball on the ground and steal bases. Fortunately I was able to get a hold of that one.”

The Gamecocks tied things at 5 in the sixth on an RBI single by Todd Cunningham, who was 3-for-5 and drove in four runs.

But Gamache gave Auburn the lead for good in the bottom of the inning. Gamache, who had to settle for a sacrifice fly in the fourth after being robbed of a grand slam on a leaping catch in center by Daniel Adamson, got a hold of a ball off reliever Cody Ponder (0-1) and hit it out to left to make it 6-5.

“The hitters had our back all day,” Auburn closer Austin Hubbard said. “We’d give up two and then we’d score three. It’s pretty much how it’s been all year.”

The Tigers led 8-7 in the eighth before McElroy gave them some breathing room with a solo home run.

Hubbard, who relieved Slade Smith (4-0) in the eighth and watched as the Gamecocks pulled within one, ended the wild affair with a 1-2-3 ninth.

“It was a huge win,” Hubbard said. “We are all pumped to get that victory.”