AUBURN, Ala. — Sean Ray pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings to lead Auburn to a 3-1 victory against No. 10 Alabama on Saturday at Plainsman Park in the completion of a suspended game from Friday night.

Ray, who took the mound in the fourth inning when play resumed, allowed two hits and only three baserunners the rest of the way, keeping the SEC’s top-hitting team off the board.

The game ended when Alabama’s Alex Kubal drove a ball off the big wall in left but was thrown out by Brian Fletcher trying to stretch it to a double.

Tigers pitchers, who have a 7.31 ERA in league play, have allowed only three runs in the first two games of the series against their in-state rival.

“Our guys for some reason on the pitching side have really stepped it up,” Auburn head coach John Pawlowski said. “They’re really competing hard. Obviously when you play Alabama, there’s a lot at stake for a lot of people.”

Ray (2-0) has now thrown 19 straight shutout innings, allowing only six hits during that stretch.

“If I could explain it, I could tell everyone how to do it,” he said. “I’m just trying to get outs and whatever happens happens.”

The loss dropped Alabama (36-17, 17-11 SEC) out of contention for the regular season SEC title.

All of the game’s runs were scored Friday before the rain came. Auburn (31-24, 11-18 SEC) took a 3-1 lead in third on back-to-back RBI singles by Tony Caldwell and Casey McElroy.

Tide starter Del Howell (5-3) took the loss. Reliever Jimmy Nelson threw five shutout innings Saturday, striking out seven.

The third game of the series is scheduled for today at 4 ET. It will be a seven-inning game. Dexter Price (4-2, 5.40 ERA) will take the mound for Auburn against Alabama’s Adam Morgan (3-1, 4.57).