FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas had hoped to get off to a good start at home Friday after losing its last two SEC series on the road.

So much for that idea.

Grant Dayton pitched six strong innings and Matt Hall had a double and an RBI single to lead Auburn to a 5-2 victory over Arkansas before 2, 641 at Baum Stadium.

The Tigers scored single runs in the third and fourth innings after Jeff Nutt tied it for Arkansas with a two-run home run in the second.

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Arkansas (16-12, 2-7 ) must win the next two games against Auburn (19-11, 5-5 ) to avoid losing its fourth consecutive SEC series. Another loss by Arkansas also would give Auburn its first series victory at Baum Stadium since 2000, when the Tigers swept the Razorbacks.

Dayton (4-1 ) went six innings and scattered five hits while winning his third consecutive SEC start. Arkansas starter Cliff Springston (4-1 ) allowed five runs in eight innings and left trailing 5-2.

“It starts on the mound when we play good baseball,” Auburn Coach Tom Slater said. “Grant has a lot of composure, and he settled right back down after he gave up the two-run home run. The team stayed composed because they know they’ve got a guy on the mound who doesn’t get rattled.”

Arkansas appeared to have something going in the seventh inning when Nutt led off with a single and Brett Eibner was hit by a pitch from reliever Michael Hurst. The rally fizzled when Hurst struck out Tim Smalling and retired Chase Leavitt and Sean Jones on popups.

“We had runners at first and second in the seventh inning and they didn’t move,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “We were down three at the time, but if we could’ve cut into that with one or two runs, anything could have happened.

“ We just didn’t get it done, and that’s disappointing.”

Bryan Woodall earned his eighth save by holding Arkansas scoreless over the last two innings.

Auburn jumped ahead 2-0 before Nutt tied it with his first home run of the season since returning from a shoulder injury. The Tigers moved ahead again with single runs in the third and fourth innings. Justin Hargett hit a leadoff single and scored on a groundout in the third, and Brian Fletcher drew a leadoff walk and scored on an RBI single by Hall in the fourth.

Auburn increased its lead to 5-2 when Hall, the No. 9 hitter, led off the seventh inning with a double and scored on a double-play grounder.

Hall and Fletcher had two hits each for Auburn, while Nutt and Ben Tschepikow had two hits each for Arkansas. The Tigers outhit Arkansas 10-7, and the Razorbacks made the only error when Smalling misplayed a grounder that allowed a run in the third.

“I’m swinging the bat well and good things are happening for me,” said Hall, who raised his average to. 336. “We got some key hits and the defense played well, which is easy when you get pitching like we did tonight. It was awesome playing behind those guys.”

Arkansas, which has struggled with injuries all season, saw Andy Wilkins leave the game after he hurt himself while swinging at a pitch in the sixth inning. Wilkins has started 26 games and was hitting. 333 with seven home runs entering Friday’s game.

“[Wilkins ] probably has a pulled muscle and, for a hitter, that’s one of the worst things that can happen,” Van Horn said. “Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s out a month.”

Right-hander Justin Wells (1-0, 4. 56 ERA ) will make his first start for Arkansas today following two strong relief

per-1 formances. Wells pitched 7 / 3 innings for a victory in relief against LSU, then struck out a career-high seven batters in six innings against Vanderbilt. He’ll face Auburn left-hander Cory Luckie (3-2, 3. 05 ERA ), who allowed four runs in six innings last Saturday against Tennessee.