AUBURN, Ala. — For the first time this season, Southern Miss pitcher Scott Copeland (11-1) took a loss as No. 20 Clemson defeated Southern Miss 10-1 in the opening game of the NCAA Auburn Regional.

Clemson struck for the game’s first runs in the bottom of the first as Mike Freeman ripped an RBI double and then came around to score on a sacrifice fly for an early 2-0 lead.

The Tigers tried to pad their lead in the bottom of the second as they loaded the bases with no outs, but Copeland induced a double play, then coaxed a weak ground ball to end the threat without any runs scoring.

Southern Miss cut the Clemson lead in half in the top of the fifth as Joey Archer doubled to lead off the frame and came around to score on Tyler Koelling’s RBI double to make the score 2-1.

The Tigers answered with a solo home run by Will Lamb in the bottom of the fifth and an RBI single by Kyle Parker to put the Tigers up 4-1.

Clemson blew the game open in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run by John Hinson to increase the lead to 5-1 before Copeland left the game with runners on the corners. Lamb added an RBI single and Jeff Schaus plated two more with a two-RBI single through the right side off Cody Schlagel. The third Golden Eagle pitcher of the inning, Mandella Mingo, uncorked a wild pitch to allow the fifth run of the inning. Then he surrendered an RBI single to Brad Miller to complete the scoring.