The Auburn Tigers came into this week's SEC Softball Tournament with a tough road ahead. With only four conference wins on the season, they needed to make a statement to keep their NCAA Regional hopes alive. On Tuesday, they did just that—and then some.

Trailing 2-0 in the sixth inning, the No. 14-seeded Auburn squad erupted for six unanswered runs to stun No. 11 Missouri, 6-2, in the tournament opener at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. It was a comeback that showcased the heart and power that define championship-caliber softball.

The rally started with a little help from Missouri's miscues. With one out in the sixth, Alyssa Hastings and Ma'Nia Womack scored on a throwing error by Missouri catcher Stefania Abruscato and a wild pitch from pitcher Abby Carr. That set the stage for freshman Haven Roebuck, who crushed a two-run home run to left field, flipping the scoreboard to give Auburn a 4-2 lead. Kyla Stroud then added a solo shot in the seventh inning, and Womack tacked on a two-out RBI single to score Kylie Shaw for extra insurance.

On the mound, Charley Butler slammed the door on Missouri, allowing just one walk and one hit over the final three innings to earn the win in relief. Butler took over for Ella Harrison, who gave up two earned runs and two walks over four innings but still managed to strike out five while allowing just four hits.

The victory keeps Auburn's championship dreams alive and sets up a showdown with No. 6 Texas A&M on Wednesday at 10 a.m. CT on SEC Network. For a team that entered the tournament as a long shot, Tuesday's performance was a powerful reminder that in softball, it's not how you start—it's how you finish.