Softball Uses Early Game Success to Best Auburn in Game Two

Saturday, March 28

Auburn, Ala.

2 p.m.

Missouri

18-18, 0

Auburn

23-12, 0

Missouri

Auburn

Softball Uses Early Game Success to Best Auburn in Game Two

3/28/2026 5:14:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

The Tigers move to 3-5 in the SEC, as they are now 12-2 in their last 14 games.

AUBURN, Ala. - Mizzou softball (18-18, 3-5 SEC) used a five-run first inning as it took down Auburn (23-12, 2-6 SEC), 6-3, to officially win its first SEC series of the season on Saturday, March 28, at Jane B. Moore Field.

Junior Stefania Abruscato recorded three hits – including her 100th career hit in the second inning – as she posted one RBI on her solo home run. Senior Courtney Donahue picked up the win as she threw three scoreless innings in relief, moving her to 2-3 on the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

In the top half of the first, Mizzou took advantage of the high sun position, as it scored multiple runs after hitting high fly balls to center field. Freshman Sidney Forrester started it for the Tigers, as she turned a ball lost in the sun into her first career triple. Junior Abby Hay joined the fun with a high fly ball to center – this time it was deemed an error – as Forrester scored and Hay went to second. Freshman Abby Carr and sophomore Sophie Smith took a different approach with typical doubles, as MU led 5-0 after the first.

Auburn returned in the latter part of the inning with its first run of the series with a home run. That run wouldn't matter much, as MU returned the favor as junior Stefania Abruscato recorded her 100th career hit on a solo home run, making it 6-1.

The Auburn Tigers added two more – one in the bottom of the third and one in the fourth – as senior Courtney Donahue replaced starting pitcher junior Marissa McCann. McCann wrapped up her outing with 3.2 innings pitched, allowing three earned runs and striking out seven.

Donahue controlled Auburn's offense, as she pitched 3.0 innings and allowed two hits, picking up her second win of the season, putting her 2-3 on the season. After Auburn would get one on, Carr replaced Donahue on the mound, as she would get the final out and record her third save of the season - her second-straight save.

GAME NOTES

Larissa Anderson is now 390-236-1 all-time.
Mizzou leads the all-time series 15-13 and the Tigers lead the all-time series 6-5 in Auburn, Ala.
Junior Stefania Abruscato recorded her 100th career hit with a homerun in the second inning.
The Tigers are 12-2 in their last 14 games.

NEXT UP

Mizzou searches for the sweep, as it takes on Auburn in the series finale starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, at Jane B. Moore Field.

FOLLOW THE TIGERS

For all the latest on Mizzou Softball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team @MizzouSoftball (X, Instagram, Facebook).