FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas players stood for several seconds in the dugout seemingly stunned Sunday before slowly emerging for the postgame handshakes.

Arkansas fans, at least the ones who remained, shuffled out of the stadium shaking their heads or complaining about the umpires.

Proving that no lead is safe this season, Arkansas again wasted a big lead and lost 12-10 to Auburn in 10 innings Sunday at Baum Stadium. A crowd announced at 6, 831 saw Arkansas build an 8-2 lead before collapsing against the Tigers, who scored 10 runs in the final three innings. Brian Fletcher put Auburn ahead for good with a two-run single in the 10 th and Michael Hurst pitched the final 2 1 / 3 innings to give the Tigers the comeback victory.

Auburn (20-12, 6-6 ) completed its first series victory at Arkansas (17-13, 3-7 ) since 2000 and handed the Razorbacks their fourth consecutive SEC series loss.

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“It just kind of came down to making a play,” said Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn, who was ejected in the 10 th for arguing balls and strikes. “[If ] we make a play or two in the ninth, the game is over. Sometimes you make the play; sometimes you don’t.

“ That’s a big flip in the standings, a big game right there.”

The game was reminiscent of March 15, when Arkansas blew a nine-run lead against Georgia and lost 15-11. Arkansas led 8-2 over Auburn on the strength of two-run home runs by Tim Smalling and Brett Eibner in the second inning.

The Tigers scored four runs in both the eighth and ninth innings and tied the game 10-10 on a two-out RBI single by Kevin Patterson. Arkansas shortstop Scott Lyons had a fielding error in the ninth inning and couldn’t come up with another grounder that was later ruled a hit. Tim Smalling has started most of the season at short but Smalling is playing first base now in place of Andy Wilkins, who pulled a muscle while swinging at a pitch in the series opener.

Even after Auburn forced a tie, Arkansas had a chance to win in the ninth after Logan Forsythe walked and moved to second on a bunt by Jeff Nutt. But Auburn reliever Michael Hurst forced an extra inning when he retired Smalling on a popup and struck out Chase Leavitt swinging.

Arkansas outhit Auburn 15-14 but the Razorbacks committed all three errors in the game. Eibner led Arkansas with three hits and Fletcher topped the Tigers with four.

Hurst (2-1 ) got the victory in relief over Stephen Richards (1- 3 ), who earned his first save in Saturday’s 5-4 victory over the Tigers.

“When we brought in Bryan Woodall, our closer, in the eighth inning we knew we had a shot,” Auburn Coach Tom Slater said of the Tigers’ comeback. “He gave up a few runs, but our kids kept battling even after that and found a way to win. We’ve played pretty well the last three weekends and after being swept against Florida. This is a good win here but each weekend is different.”

Arkansas starter Dallas Keuchel gave up home runs to Hunter Morris and Fletcher and was pulled after three innings. Freshman Kendall Korbal pitched four scoreless innings, but Shaun Seibert and Travis Hill both allowed four runs and combined to give up seven hits in less than two innings.

Arkansas was hoping for another quality start from Keuchel after he pitched eight innings in a loss to LSU in his previous SEC start.

“They were putting good swings on [Keuchel ] and it didn’t look like he had that much arm strength,” Arkansas pitching coach Dave Jorn said. “Maybe that’s from pitching in a midweek game, I don’t know. We had some guys rested in the bullpen and it worked out pretty good until the latter part of the game.”

Van Horn’s dispute with the umpires began in the 10 th inning when he argued for a strike call on a checked swing, and after catcher Jeff Nutt threw behind a runner at first base. Van Horn wanted a second opinion from first base umpire Mark Chapman on the play, but none was given.

After Auburn took the lead, Van Horn jumped out of the dugout to argue a called ball and was ejected by home plate umpire Morris Hodges. Third base umpire Ray Miller got between the two men before Van Horn finally left the field.

“That’s a big difference in a 1-2 count and a 2-1 count,” Van Horn said of the call that went against Arkansas in the ninth. “The only thing I was disappointed in is [Hodges ] felt he couldn’t ask [Chapman ]. He just didn’t want to ask him. I feel like if he had asked him, instead of me having to come out there, then there we go, we are going to get the call.”

Arkansas will conclude its four-game homestand against Oral Roberts on Tuesday, then return to SEC play at Florida beginning Friday. SEC standings WESTERN DIVISION

CONF. ALL Mississippi.......................... 6-5 19-11 Auburn................................ 6-6 20-12 LSU...................................... 5-6 20-11 Alabama.............................. 5-6 17-14 Arkansas..................... 3-8 17-13 Mississippi State................. 3-8 14-16 EASTERN DIVISION

CONF. ALL Georgia................................ 8-3 19-10 Florida.................................. 8-4 21-10 Tennessee............................ 7-5 19-11 South Carolina.................... 6-5 20-9 Kentucky.............................. 6-5 24-5 Vanderbilt............................ 5-5 19-9 SATURDAY’S GAMES Arkansas 5, Auburn 4 LSU 3-8, Alabama 0-9 Tennessee, 5, Florida 4 Georgia 1, South Carolina 0 Mississippi 7, Vanderbilt 6 Mississippi State 6, Kentucky 5 SUNDAY’S GAMES Kentucky 9, Mississippi State 8 LSU 9, Alabama 7 Tennessee 12-2, Florida 6-7 Georgia 4, South Carolina 2 Auburn 12, Arkansas 10 Mississippi 11, Vanderbilt 6 TUESDAY’S GAMES Austin Peay at Tennessee, 4 p. m. Winthrop at Georgia, 4 p. m. Louisville at Kentucky, 5: 30 p. m. North Florida at Florida, 5: 30 p. m. Georgia State at Auburn, 6 p. m. Western Carolina at South Carolina, 6 p. m. Mississippi Valley St. at Alabama, 6: 30 p. m. South Alabama at Mississippi, 6: 30 p. m. Mississippi State at Memphis, 6: 30 p. m. Oral Roberts at Arkansas, 6: 35 p. m.