The two problems Auburn’s players and coach said it had to fix in 2010 reappeared in the Tigers’ season opener, and another new one reared its head in the ugliest of ways.

On top of surrendering 15 hits and double-digit runs and not generating much offense until the game was out of hand, the Tigers committed five errors in their 13-8 loss to Southeast Missouri State on Friday at Plainsman Park.

“In college baseball there are too many good teams,” coach John Pawlowski said. “When you make five errors, you should lose. That’s the way it is.”

Southeast Missouri State (1-0) might not be the most notable team in college baseball, but it certainly fit that bill Friday because of the Tigers’ uncharacteristically poor defense.

Six of Southeast Missouri’s 13 runs were unearned, including all four that Sean Ray surrendered in the seventh inning. The Redhawks’ biggest inning of the day staked them to a 12-3 lead and rendered the five runs Auburn scrapped together in the seventh and eighth innings meaningless.

The Redhawks scored runs in all three innings the Tigers committed errors — the fifth, sixth and seventh — en route to turning a one-run game into a laugher.

“You’ve got to be able to play better, solid defense than that. And we didn’t,” Pawlowski said. “I’m disappointed for the kids and the program, but the leaders are going to have to emerge.”

Jon Luke Jacobs was the first Auburn pitcher to be victim of suspect defense, but he clearly didn’t have his best stuff working to kick off his sophomore season. Jacobs gave up a solo home run in the second inning and a three-run homer in the third to Jim Klocke before allowing two more unearned runs in the fifth.

Jacobs’ day was done after Kody Campbell’s two-out, two-RBI single, as he went 4 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out four.

“He’s been throwing the ball well, but you know how it is when the season starts, you’ve got to be able to execute,” Pawlowski said. “And they executed, they came up with some big hits and we didn’t.”

The Tigers showed much more discipline at the plate than most of last year, only striking out twice, but they weren’t able to get the best of Southeast Missouri’s pitchers until it was too late.

Auburn High product Creede Simpson had two singles and a double in his first game with the Tigers and first baseman Hunter Morris chipped in with three singles. Sandwiching solo home runs by Justin Fradejas in the fourth inning and Justin Hargett in the seventh, Brian Fletcher rapped an RBI single in the first and a two-RBI double in the eighth.

It just didn’t add up to an Opening Day victory.

“You put five errors on the board and you don’t hit in the clutch and you get beat,” Pawlowski said. “We just didn’t play very well. It was obvious in all the facets of the game.”

Fradejas hurt
Pawlowski said Fradejas, Auburn’s starting centerfielder, will likely miss today’s game and beyond with a hand injury he sustained Friday.

Fradejas didn’t play the final three innings with Tony Caldwell taking his spot in the lineup. Simpson switched from right field to center while Caldwell, a catcher by trade, moved to right field.

Caldwell will play in right field until Fradejas is able to return, Pawlowski said.

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