AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn couldn’t find any more magic Monday night.

A day after clinging to life thanks to Creede Simpson’s dramatic, ninth-inning homer, top-seeded Auburn couldn’t capitalize on numerous opportunities in a 13-7 season-ending loss to second-seeded Clemson in the NCAA regional finale at Plainsman Park.

“Any time your season ends, it’s always a disappointment,” Auburn coach John Pawlowski said. “There’s probably only one team that will be happy with its season and that’s the team that wins the national championship.”

Clemson (41-22) and head coach Jack Leggett advance to the super regionals for the ninth time since the NCAA changed the tournament format in 1999. The Tigers will host Alabama in the best-of-three series starting Saturday.

Auburn (43-21), which made its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2005, missed out on qualifying for its first super regional since 1999.

Monday’s difference was simple: Clemson came up with clutch hits; Auburn didn’t. Auburn finished with 18 hits, four more than Clemson, getting at least one hit in every inning. But it only produced seven runs, leaving 12 runners on base.

The Tigers hit into three double plays, none of which involved the standard force out at second.

“I think those double plays certainly took the wind out of our sails,” Pawlowski said. “Especially when we had a little momentum going but could never really get over the top.”

Clemson battered around all six Auburn pitchers, especially starter Jon Luke Jacobs (0-3), who made his first start since injuring his elbow April 10. He faced eight batters before getting pulled, allowing six to reach base.

Kyle Parker, who was drafted during the game by the Colorado Rockies with the 26th pick in the first round of the MLB draft, hit a three-run homer in the first. Clemson led 6-0 after two.

“We just never really got off to a good start,” Pawlowski said. “And against good teams it’s tough to come back.”

Auburn got as close as 8-6 on Trent Mummey’s solo home run in the fifth, but Clemson answered in the seventh with Richie Shaffer’s three-run double.

Auburn’s final innings were littered with wasted rallies. After Casey McElroy led off the seventh with a homer to cut the lead to four, Auburn put runners at the corners with one out for Mummey. He promptly grounded into a double play, with Simpson getting tagged out at home.

“I thought that was our inning to really come back,” McElroy said.

Hunter Morris, who finished 0-for-5, lined into a double play to end the eighth after a controversial call negated what looked like a sure double down the right field line for Brian Fletcher. Auburn pitching coach Scott Foxhall would get ejected for arguing the play.

With the bases loaded in the ninth, Mummey grounded out to first to end things.

“Those were big plays and their pitchers made good pitches,” McElroy said. “They made plays when it counted and it hurts.”

Clemson reliever Alex Frederick (7-2) gave up two runs in three-plus innings to earn the win. He struck out five. Kevin Brady pitched three scoreless innings for the save.

Pawlowski met with Auburn’s players in a huddle down the third base line briefly following the game. Afterward, the players turned and tipped their hats the home crowd, which gave them a standing ovation.

“It means a lot to have the fans believe in Auburn baseball again,” McElroy said.