Ole Miss’ season couldn’t have gotten off to a much better start.

The start of the Southeastern Conference season was a little rockier.

Auburn rallied to score two runs with two outs in the top of the ninth inning Sunday, and went on to beat Ole Miss 3-2.

Auburn (12-8, 2-1), which also won Saturday, took two out of three in the first SEC series of the season for both teams.

“What a tough way to end the weekend for us,” Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said. “You have to credit Auburn. They played extremely hard and found a way to win. They got hits when they needed them.”

Jay Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning to put Auburn ahead 1-0, then Ole Miss (15-5, 1-2) scored twice in the bottom half to take the lead. Blake Newalu led off with a game-tying home run, then Tanner Mathis tripled and scored on a groundout by Alex Yarbrough.

Ole Miss starter Mike Mayers kept Auburn in check until the ninth. He struck out five and walked none in 82⁄3 innings. After Caleb Bowen doubled and eventually scored on Gonzalez’s sacrifice fly, Mayers retired 18 of the next 20 batters he faced and had two strikes on Ryan Tella with two outs in the ninth.

And that was when things quickly fell apart.

Tella doubled down the left field line, and Cullen Wacker followed with another double to tie the game at 2.

“They had been pitching me backdoor sliders the whole game and he came in with one. It got back over the plate and I was able to turn on it and put it down in the corner. As soon as it left the bat, I knew it was down and we had tied the ballgame,” Wacker said.

Wacker’s hit chased Mayers from the game. Garrett Cooper greeted closer Brett Huber with a base hit up the middle to put Auburn ahead 3-2.

Andrew Mistone led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk for Ole Miss, but the Rebels weren’t able to get the tying run in. Justin Bryant came on in relief and retired the next three batters in order to end the game and earn his second save of the season.

“Mike (Mayers) pitched a great game, and up until 26 outs and two strikes on a hitter you really thought it was going to be a great day for us,” Bianco said.

Auburn reliever Cory Luckie (1-0) pitched two innings of scoreless relief for the win. Wacker finished the game 3-for-4 with a double.

SEC scoreboard

Sunday’s Games

Florida 8, Vanderbilt 2

Arkansas 7, Alabama 4

Auburn 3, Ole Miss 2

Mississippi State 7, LSU 1

Tennessee 3, Georgia 0

Kentucky 6, South Carolina 3