FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Razorbacks dropped the series opener to Auburn, 3-2 in 10 innings on Friday night.
The loss drops Arkansas to 34-16 overall, and 12-13 in SEC play.
Auburn scored first, when Ryan Tella grounded out to second, scoring Jay Gonzalez.
Arkansas tied it up in the fourth, when Matt Reynolds hit his fifth home run of the year to left field.
The game stayed tied until the sixth, when Arkansas Jacob Mahan scored Jake Wise with a sacrifice fly to right.
Auburn threatened in the sixth, putting two on and chasing Razorback starter DJ Baxendale. But Brandon Moore came in and threw one pitch to get out of the inning and preserve the Arkansas lead.
In the top of the eighth, Creede Simpson singled to lead off the inning. Two batters later, Patrick Savage drove him in with a double to right-center, tying the game at two.
Arkansas went down in order in the eighth and ninth, sending the game to extra innings. In the top of the inning, Gonzalez doubled to lead off for Auburn. After Barrett Astin recorded two strikeouts, Justin Bryant singled on a bouncing ball up the middle, scoring Gonzalez with the go-ahead run.
Arkansas managed a one-out single from Brian Anderson in the bottom of the tenth, and he got as far as second base. But after Derrick Bleeker struck out for the second out, Bo Bigham lined out to right to end the game.
Astin (2-5) takes the loss for allowing one earned run in one inning. Baxendale pitched well, starting on three days rest and going 5.2 innings, giving up just one run and striking out a career-high nine.
The series continues Friday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Arkansas sends junior left-hander Randall Fant (2-2, 4.04) to the mound. Auburn counters with freshman lefty Daniel Koger (3-4, 2.74).
