Auburn has made a habit of jumping out to early leads this season, a trend continued in the first two games of its series against No. 7 Arizona State.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, that offense has proven difficult to sustain, a trend continued in its one-run loss to the Sun Devils on Friday and its 9-5 defeat Saturday at Plainsman Park.

No. 23 Auburn (10-5) has outscored opponents 51-8 in the first three innings this year. Its opponents hold a 63-44 edge over the final six.

The Tigers held a 4-0 lead after three innings against the Sun Devils (11-2) on Friday before the visitors came back to win 8-7.

Saturday, Auburn took a 4-1 lead into the fourth before Arizona State overcame it.

“I thought our approach at the plate was good and then we had situations where we twice I think had bases loaded, one out, and we only scored one run out of it,“ Tigers coach John Pawlowski said. “And hopefully we can come up with a hit there.

“But we’ve got to keep talking to them about approach and try to find a way offensively to try to get guys on base and manufacture some runs.”

Auburn scored two runs each in the second and third to take the lead, but the Sun Devils erased it in the fourth on a two-run home run by Matt Newman and an RBI double from Xorge Carrillo.

Both starters had departed by the end of the fourth, as the Tigers chased Kyle Ottoson after 2 1/3 innings, and Auburn starter Slade Smith lasted just 3 1/3, giving up three runs on seven hits.

“We’ve got to get those starters deeper into the game so we can get to our closer or Sean Ray or Ethan Wallen, those guys have been very solid for us,” Pawlowski said. “We’ve got to find somebody who can bridge that gap there. And I think it’s very important you play a series like this because you find out pretty quickly where your weaknesses are and the things you need to work on.”

Arizona State moved ahead on an RBI fielder’s choice by Andrew Aplin in the top of the sixth, and Auburn knotted the score at 5-5 in its half on a Justin Hargett sacrifice fly that scored Jay Gonzalez.

The Tigers had bases loaded and one out, but managed only a run. They had a similar situation in the fourth and got nothing.

They put the first two batters on in the seventh and had a runner on second with no outs in the eighth, but couldn’t push a run across either time.

Arizona State, meanwhile, was cashing in its chances, scoring two in the seventh on a sacrifice fly and Newman RBI double to take a 7-5 lead, then plating two more in the ninth on a Newman solo shot and a Carrillo RBI single to push its lead to four.

The Sun Devils’ 6-7-8 hitters – Newman, Joey DeMichele and Carrillo – were a combined 11-for-15 with six doubles, two home runs and seven RBI on the day.

Newman, who entered the game with one extra-base hit and two RBI on the year, socked two home runs and a double Saturday, driving in four.

DeMichele, whose previous career high for hits in a game was two, went 5-for-5 with three doubles.

“The big thing is seven out of nine innings they got the leadoff guy on base,” Pawlowski said. “And it always seemed like we were pitching with somebody on base. So it puts a lot of pressure on your team, puts pressure on the defense, and they’re a quality team and they’re going to find ways to score runs and they did today.”

Andrew Morris (1-1) took the loss for the Tigers, giving up four runs on six hits over three innings, and Mark Lambson (1-0) went a scoreless inning to get the win for Arizona State, with Trevor Williams hurling 2 2/3 hitless innings for the save.

Hargett and Wes Gilmer were each 2-for-4 with an RBI for Auburn, which sends Derek Varnadore (3-0, 1.17 ERA) to the hill today at 1 p.m.

“Our mindset is it’s a one-game championship tomorrow,” Pawlowski said. “And to our program, to our kids in there, even though it’s non-conference, they are competitive and they want to win and they’re going to come ready tomorrow.”

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