HOOVER (Interstat) — A rain delay of 2 hours and 15 minutes could not cool off the Arkansas bullpen, as the Razorbacks defeated Auburn 2-1 in a Southeastern Conference pitchers’ duel Saturday at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

Arkansas improved to 39-19 overall, while Auburn fell to 38-19.

The game began with a crisp rhythm. Arkansas starter Cooper Dossett worked two innings, allowing one earned run on a solo home run to Auburn left fielder Bub Terrell in the bottom of the second. Terrell’s homer to right center gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Dossett struck out two and walked none in his abbreviated outing.

Auburn’s offense managed only that one blast against the Razorbacks’ deep relief corps. After Dossett departed, Arkansas turned to a parade of hard-throwing arms: James DeCremer, Colin Fisher, Ethan McElvain and Cooper Dossett’s relief helped preserve the thin margin.

The Razorbacks equalized in the top of the fifth. With one out, third baseman Nolan Robinett doubled to center field off Auburn reliever Ryan Hetzler. Shortstop Camden Kozeal then singled through the right side, driving in Robinett to tie the game at 1. Hetzler, who had entered the game in the top of the fifth, finished with a strong line: 5 innings, 3 hits, 2 earned runs and 8 strikeouts, but he took the loss.

Arkansas seized the lead for good in the top of the eighth. After a dropped foul ball extended the inning, catcher Ryder Helfrick launched a solo homer to left field off Auburn reliever Alex Petrovic, giving the Razorbacks a 2-1 advantage. Petrovic had been nearly untouchable through the first four innings, allowing just two hits and striking out seven, but Helfrick’s blast was the decisive blow.

The most important stretch of the game came after the weather delay. Play was halted in the bottom of the fourth inning at 6 p.m. CT with Auburn threatening. When action resumed at 8:15, Arkansas brought in Fisher, then McElvain, and the Tigers could not push across another run.

McElvain was the top star for Arkansas, tossing 4⅓ shutout innings. He allowed no hits, walked none and struck out six. The performance capped a dominant week for the right-hander, who also threw 3 hitless innings against Kentucky on May 15 with seven strikeouts. McElvain entered in the bottom of the fifth with runners on base and promptly retired the side, then mowed down Auburn batters in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

Arkansas closer Colin Fisher worked 1⅔ hitless innings with two strikeouts, and James DeCremer pitched a scoreless third inning with one strikeout.

Auburn’s best offensive threat came in the bottom of the fifth, when catcher Carter B. singled and stole third with two outs, but McElvain struck out E. Bingaman to end the inning. The Tigers stranded six runners overall.

Left fielder Bub Terrell was 1 for 4 with the solo homer and an RBI. Catcher Lucas Steele doubled in the third but was left on base. Third baseman C. Rembert and first baseman M. McCraine each had one hit for Auburn.

Arkansas shortstop Camden Kozeal went 2 for 3 with the game-tying RBI single and a walk. Catcher Ryder Helfrick was 1 for 4 with the go-ahead homer. The Razorbacks finished with five hits, while Auburn collected seven.

The game featured a combined 30 strikeouts. Arkansas pitchers struck out 15, Auburn pitchers fanned 15.

The victory avenged a series loss earlier this season, when Auburn took two of three games in early April. Arkansas had lost 8-3 and 10-2 in those games before winning the middle game 3-2.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Arkansas 7, Auburn 6. Interstat’s ELO system gave Arkansas a 58.80 percent probability to win. Auburn had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5.