COLUMBIA, Mo. – Behind a historic performance from Maddie Penta and a pair of insurance home runs from Amelia Lech, No. 25 Auburn softball (13-4-1, 1-2 SEC) spoiled the sweep with a 4-0 win over No. 12 Missouri (20-3, 2-1 SEC) Sunday at the Mizzou Softball Complex.
"We did a nice job of making adjustments at the plate," said head coach Mickey Dean. "Our defense played sharp. Maddie hit her spots. We had a game plan that everyone was able to stick with. It ended up being a great day."
Penta (7-3) kept the Missouri offense in check with her sixth shutout of the season. She scattered four hits and issued just one walk while striking out seven Tigers. The win was the 67th of Penta's collegiate career, which ties Kaylee Carlson (2016-18) for Auburn's program record. The victory was also Penta's 19th shutout, moving her to third outright in school history.
Lech paced the Tigers at the plate as she went 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs and three RBI. Anna Wohlers and Abbey Smith also turned in 2-for-3 efforts with Wohlers adding a double. Makayla Packer's lone hit of the game was an RBI triple that gave Auburn an early lead.
After two scoreless frames to open Sunday's finale, Auburn struck in the third with the help of the two fastest Tigers on the team. Smith beat out an infield single to lead off the frame before moving into scoring position on a wild pitch. Packer drove her home with a triple to left field. Packer is now tied with Sara Dean for second in program history with eight career triples.
Lech welcomed Missouri reliever Marissa McCann into the game with a solo homer to lead off the fourth inning. Lech continued to provide a lift for the Auburn offense in the top of the sixth. After a Wohlers double to lead off the frame, Lech connected for her second homer of the game to extend the lead to 4-0. The insurance blasts were Lech's sixth and seventh homers of the season and was just her second multi-home run game of her career.
Returning to Jane B. Moore Field for its first home series in SEC action, Auburn hosts No. 18 Arkansas for a three-game series. Friday's series opener is set for 5 p.m. CT on the SEC Network+.
