No. 12/12 Softball Shuts Out No. 25/25 Auburn for Series Win

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Cierra Harrison notched a complete-game shutout and Chantice Phillips blasted a three-run homer as the No. 12/12 University of Missouri softball team (20-2, 2-0 SEC) downed No. 25/25 Auburn (12-4-1, 0-2 SEC), 5-0, Saturday afternoon at the Mizzou Softball Stadium to secure the SEC series win.

Mizzou clinched its SEC opening series for the first time since 2020, a 3-0 home sweep of Ole Miss March 6-8.

The 20-2 start to the 2024 season is the best start for Missouri since the Tigers opened the 2013 campaign 22-2 en route to a 38-14 finish. 

Harrison registered her third complete-game shutout of the season to improve to 7-0 in 2024. The sophomore from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, allowed no runs on five hits to go with nine strikeouts while going the distance in the circle. 

Harrison commenced the game with a 1-2-3 inning of work and struck out three of the first five batters she faced. 

Mizzou then got on the board in the bottom half of the first. Jenna Laird knocked a leadoff single and advanced to third following a double from Alex Honnold. Laird then tagged home on a wild pitch. 

The host Tigers then held Auburn scoreless in the top of the second with a pair of strikeouts and a pop out after scattering a pair of base hits.  

Katie Chester then notched a one-out double to right field before Madison Walker reached on an error to set the stage for Phillips’ second homer of the season. 

Facing an 0-1 count, Phillips drilled a three-run shot to right center to push the Mizzou edge to 4-0. Honnold then added an RBI single to center field to wrap the scoring.

Harrison retired eight straight batters from the third through the fifth including fanning the side in the fourth. 

She pitched around a leadoff walk in the sixth, utilizing her defense for three-straight outs. 

Harrison then concluded her second complete-game shutout of the week, scattering a pair of hits in the seventh. With one out and runners on first and second, she earned a strikeout and a groundout to seal the win. 

NOTES

• Cierra Harrison notched her third complete-game shutout of the season, tallying nine strikeouts to increase her career total to 119. She allowed just five hits and a walk.
• Cierra Harrison registered her second-straight complete-game shutout, after notching a career-best 10 strikeouts while allowing just a pair of hits at Kansas City on Wednesday. 
• Cierra Harrison improved to 7-0 with the victory. 
• Chantice Phillips hit her second home run of the season, matching her career high set in 2023. She now has four career homers. 
• Chantice Phillips finished 1-for-3 with a season-best three RBI.
• Jenna Laird extended her hitting streak to six games, dating back to March 2 against Nebraska. She finished 1-for-3 with a run and a stolen base. 
• Alex Honnold notched an RBI, going 2-for-3 with a double. She is now three away from 100 career RBI.
• Katie Chester (third in 2024) and Kayley Lenger (fourth in 2024) each added doubles. 
• Mizzou picked up the win in front of an announced season-best attendance of 2,222 fans.
• Mizzou clinched its SEC opening series for the first time since 2020, a 3-0 home sweep of Ole Miss March 6-8.
• Missouri’s record against top-25 foes improved to 4-1 in 2024. 
• Mizzou’s all-time record against Auburn improved to 13-12 after Saturday’s win. 

LOOKING AHEAD

• Mizzou finishes its series against Auburn Sunday (noon, CT) to conclude its 2024 home opening/SEC opening weekend. The series finale will be available on SEC Network+. 
• Fans are encouraged to wear Gold for Sunday’s finale. 

FOLLOW THE TIGERS

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