The Auburn baseball team went into this weekend’s series against No. 15 Arkansas knowing it would be a good barometer for where it stands in the SEC.

After a three-game sweep — punctuated by a 12-6 Razorbacks rout Sunday — the Tigers know they have some work to do.

Arkansas (16-4, 6-0 SEC) pounded out 17 hits and built leads of 8-1 and 11-2 at Plainsman Park to coast to its second sweep in as many weeks since SEC play began. It was the Razorbacks’ first-ever series sweep in Auburn.

“Any time you lose three games on a weekend, especially conference play, it’s very disappointing,” Tigers coach John Pawlowski said. “Arkansas came in here and they beat us in every phase of the game.”

Auburn dropped to 15-8 overall and 2-4 in the SEC.

Some notes and thoughts ...

• Arkansas jumped all over Auburn starter Paul Burnside (0-2), who gave up six runs in 2 2/3 innings. The Razorbacks scored four times in the first to put the Tigers in a deep hole. “I’ve told the guys before, it starts with pitching,” Pawlowski said. “Pitching is something that you build momentum off. ... It just put us behind the eight ball right out of the gate.”

• Burnside doesn't look quite right. It was my first time seeing him pitch this year, but he was off with his command, not surprising considering he's still getting back into the rhythm of pitching after missing last year with a broken collarbone. In five starts this year, the right-hander has a 6.53 ERA, with 14 walks in 20 2/3 innings. “You can’t fault his effort,” Pawlowski said. “I think his location is just not there. His stuff is pretty good. He just doesn’t have the command. And I think usually that’s the last piece of the puzzle.”

• Pawlowski said he might have to re-evaluate his third starter option after mid-week games against Samford and Troy this week. Dexter Price and Taylor Thompson are two pitchers he would consider.

• Not much of an offensive day until late for Auburn, which scored four runs in the eighth after it already trailed 12-2. Tony Caldwell was 3-for-4 and Joseph Sanders hit two doubles. "We know as a team that we can hit a lot better than we did," said left fielder Brian Fletcher, who hit a two-run double in the eighth.

• Auburn travels to Samford on Tuesday and Troy on Wednesday before returning home for a three-game series against Vanderbilt next weekend.