BIRMINGHAM — Auburn rallied to force extra innings, but couldn’t hold off Samford in the 10th with two outs to lose, 9-8.

Phillip Ervin came through with a two-out RBI single down the right-field line to give the Bulldogs their second victory over the Tigers (25-23) this season. Samford (30-19) beat Auburn, 8-0, at Plainsman Park on April 26.

“I thought the effort we had today was good,” Auburn head coach John Pawlowski said. “I was pleased with how our team responded, especially being down four runs at one point. We battled back in the ballgame it’s just some tough luck there in the last inning.”

Down 8-4 after six, Auburn scored three runs in the seventh and another one in the eighth to tie it up. But the Tigers couldn’t muster any runs in the ninth or 10th innings.

Ethan Wallen (4-5) took the loss for Auburn, as he allowed the 10th-inning single after Tyler Filliben struck out but reached on a wild pitch with one down in the inning.

A hard groundout up the middle by Brad Moss allowed Auburn to get the second out of the inning, but the ball was too deep on the infield to try for a double play. That brought Saxon Butler to the plate, which Auburn chose to intentionally walk for the second time on the night as he was 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs, bringing Ervin to the plate.

Samford’s Andrew Jones (1-3) got the win, shutting out Auburn over the final two innings.

Cullen Wacker (2-for-5) doubled and homered for Auburn, driving in two runs as the team collected 13 hits on the night, six of which went for extra-bases.

Justin Fradejas, who was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and Tony Caldwell (3-for-5, RBI), each had two extra-base hits as each doubled and tripled on the night.

Ervin finished the night 2-for-5 with two RBIs.

Jay Wade threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen to help force the extra innings, entering in the sixth with one out and a man on first. He retired the first six hitters he faced and left allowing just a hit and a walk while striking out three.

Auburn returns home Wednesday for a 6 p.m. game against Alabama State on Fan Appreciation Night, where admission is free at Plainsman Park.