There’s been a surplus of free baseball to start the 2010 season.

If the early results are any indication, Auburn fans would be best served to stick around until the end.

Brian Fletcher’s one-out, solo home run in the 10th inning gave the Tigers a 6-5 victory over Boston College on Friday, marking the second extra-inning, walk-off win in the first four games of the season at Plainsman Park.

With 53 games still to play, Auburn is well on pace to surpass the five walk-off victories it had in 2009.

“These guys, for whatever reason, if we don’t get it done, just keep battling and battling,” coach John Pawlowski said. “It’s typical with the makeup of this team. We’re going to keep fighting and clawing.”

Fletcher’s two-strike, opposite-field blast was his second of the game, third on the season and had all the makings of a storybook finish, with the mob at home plate and fist pumps as he rounded the bases. Injured centerfielder Trent Mummey even dropped his crutches for a minute to join the festivities.

It just wasn’t the intention when Fletcher dug in against Boston College reliever Chris Kowalski with a 2-2 count, one out and no one on base, he said.

“I didn’t really want to do too much,” Fletcher said, “even though you want to be the hero.”

Executing his first career walk-off — counting Little League and high school – allowed him to enjoy the part.

“It’s always been a dream for me to have that walk-off, be that guy,” Fletcher said. “I don’t know how to feel. I’m just really excited.”

Auburn starter Jon Luke Jacobs was touched up early but settled down enough to put together a decent effort. Jacobs lasted only 4 1/3 innings — his second consecutive start that failed to reach five innings — but allowed just two runs. He kept himself busy with plenty of runners, allowing six hits and four walks to go with four strikeouts.

Auburn’s relievers — Sean Ray, Bradley Hendrix, Cory Luckie, Zach Blatt and the game’s winner, Austin Hubbard — allowed a few more runs, but were predominantly reliable, often bailing out the pitcher in front of them from sticky situations.

“They all did a good job and pitched out of trouble and gave us a chance to win,” Pawlowski said.

Boston College’s Mickey Wiswall did all the damage at the plate early, knocking in the Eagles’ two first-inning runs with a double and two more the same way in the sixth off Ray.

The Tigers used a mix of small ball and power ball to pick up their five early runs.

Hunter Morris’ RBI triple plated Justin Hargett in the first inning before Fletcher’s first home run gave Auburn a 3-2 lead in the third.

A sacrifice fly by Wes Gilmer and a Hargett infield single scored Tony Caldwell and Justin Bryant, respectively, to give the Tigers a 5-2 lead after four innings.

John Spatola’s leadoff home run in the seventh inning off Hendrix tied it up and ultimately set the game up for extra innings. Blatt, a former Opelika High standout, tossed two scoreless innings, the latter of which was delayed 7 minutes because of lights going out behind home plate, to preserve the tie.

Blatt didn’t leave the game unscathed, though, twisting his ankle at some point during his two innings of work.

“It’s part of baseball,” Pawlowski said. “We’ll just keep playing and keep rolling them out there.”

Auburn will take on Missouri for the second of three games in the Auburn Classic today at 3 p.m. Fans are encouraged to arrive at least 40 minutes early to watch the honoring of the inaugural Auburn Wall of Fame class — Frank Thomas, Bo Jackson, Gregg Olson and Tim Hudson.

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