AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn softball clawed back after surrendering a five-run first inning to Missouri, but the rally fell short as the Orange and Blue dropped game two of the series, 6-3, Saturday at Jane B. Moore Field.
After giving up five early runs, Auburn (23-12, 2-6 SEC) battled back and put together a late, two-out rally in the seventh inning to bring the tying run to the plate, but Missouri (18-18, 3-5 SEC) held on for the victory to clinch the series.
“It’s tough luck for SJ (Geurin),” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “There were a couple of sun balls that Missouri took advantage of to help put up five runs. We had to play catch-up. We started to give ourselves chances and had runners on base. We were competing more today, but the ball didn’t fall.
“We had several balls just shy of going out that were caught at the wall. It makes Friday’s loss even bigger. It’s an exclamation point of what the game is about. You have games like this that are tough-luck games. We were a quarter of an inch on the bat away from being in the lead.”
Missouri built its 5-0 lead with four hits in the first inning, including three for extra bases. The sun plagued the Tiger outfield early and played a factor in the opening frame. Missouri added a solo home run from Stefania Abruscato in the second inning.
That would be the last run Missouri would score as starting pitcher SJ Geurin (5-4) settled in and retired 15 consecutive batters before allowing a single in the seventh inning.
“She responded and stayed the course to give us a chance to win,” Malveaux said of Geurin’s performance. “It was huge to see her settle into the game.”
Junior Alyssa Hastings had a strong performance at the plate, tallying three of Auburn’s five hits. She also homered in the first inning to put the Tigers on the board.
“Hastings has been steady,” Malveaux added. “She’s been letting the game come to her. She’s been competing. She’s taken over as the veteran in many ways and become a ‘show-the-way’ type of leader. We need that.”
Following Hastings’ home run, Auburn added a run in the third inning. After loading the bases with three walks, senior McKaela Walker drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to deep center.
Auburn’s third run came in the fourth inning. After drawing a pair of two-out walks ahead of Daigle Wilson, the freshman singled to left field to drive in a run.
A late rally was mounted as sophomore Kylie Shaw and Hastings delivered back-to-back, two-out singles to bring the tying run to the plate, but Auburn could not come up with the equalizing hit.
“We’ve got to rest, clear everything out and go for it,” Malveaux said. “Those are things we can control: our mindset, playing together as a team, and competing. We can’t always control the result, but we’ve got to find a way to make it happen tomorrow.”
GAME NOTES
- Alyssa Hastings went 3-for-3 at the plate to record her ninth multi-hit game of the season, bringing her career total to 39. Hastings hit her fourth home run of the season. Her first-inning blast was the 12th of her career.
UP NEXT
The MalveauxMania II finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. Fans can listen locally on WEGL 91.1 FM or stream the broadcast on the Auburn Tigers website and mobile app. Kids 12 and under can participate in Sunday Runday and run the bases postgame.