Auburn reliever Ethan Wallen put Arkansas’ leadoff man on base in each of the final three innings of the two teams’ SEC opener.

Twice, Wallen was able to work out of it.

But cashing in one runner was all it took for the ninth-ranked Razorbacks to hand the Tigers a 6-5 loss in 11 innings at Plainsman Park on Friday.

Wallen, working his fifth inning of relief, hit Jarrod McKinney to lead off the 11th, who then stole second and came around on a Collin Kuhn RBI double to put Arkansas up a run.

No. 24 Auburn (12-6, 0-1 SEC) went down in order in the bottom of the 11th, and ninth-ranked Arkansas (15-2, 1-0) started off its conference slate with a win.

“In tight games, you’ve got to find a way to get that leadoff guy out,” Tigers coach John Pawlowski said. “They did a good job. They found a way to get on base. We just couldn’t come up with that hit to put us over the top.”

Wallen (0-1) ended up being one of the toughest of tough luck losers, yielding only Kuhn’s double — along with a walk and two hit batsmen — and striking out five over 4 2/3 innings of relief.

He followed a strong outing from Slade Smith in his first action out of the bullpen this year.

Smith, who started four games over the first part of the season, gave up a run on two hits and struck out three in 2 2/3 innings in relief of starter Cory Luckie.

Pawlowski said Will Irvin (2-0, 3.93 ERA) will take Smith’s customary role as the team’s Saturday starter when the Tigers and Razorbacks meet for Game 2 of the series today at 3 p.m.

“I thought Slade did a really good job (Friday),” Pawlowski said. “Maybe that’s the best role for him. I’m encouraged by what he did, and obviously by what Ethan Wallen did.”

Arkansas sprinted out to a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning, plating runs on back-to-back doubles by Tim Carver and Kuhn to take a three-run lead.

Kevin Patterson had just the thing for that, clearing the bases with a three-run double on a 1-2 pitch to tie the game at 4-4 in the Tigers’ half of the fourth.

Auburn went ahead the next inning on a Casey McElroy solo shot, before Arkansas plated the tying run in the seventh on a James McCann groundout that scored Kuhn, who finished 3-for-6 on the game.

Wallen and Arkansas relievers Trent Daniel and Nolan Sanburn held the bats in check until the Razorbacks pushed across the winner in the 11th.
Sanburn (1-0) got the win, giving up two hits over three innings and striking out four.

Auburn left seven runners in scoring position on the game.

“We got in a hole early, but I thought the guys battled back,” Pawlowski said. “But obviously a disappointing loss and a frustrating loss for our club.”

Matt Reynolds went 4-for-6 with a double and a triple for the Razorbacks, and McKinney was 2-for-4.

McElroy was 2-for-4 with two RBI, Justin Hargett was 3-for-6, and Tony Caldwell was 2-for-4 in his first game back after missing three with shoulder soreness.

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