The No. 20 ranked Auburn softball team came up short for the fifth consecutive game Friday night in a tight 4-2 loss to the No. 16 Missouri Tigers.
Kasey Cooper and Branndi Melero drove in both of Auburn's runs, but the Tigers (31-10-1, 6-7 SEC) couldn't overcome Missouri's four-run fifth inning.
"The way we look at it, games are lost and not won," said Auburn head coach Clint Myers. "They didn't beat us, we lost. We didn't capitalize on their mistakes."
Five Auburn batters recorded a hit Friday night at Jane B. Moore Field, but the Tigers struggled to string together enough hits to push across more runs.
"There's an opportunity in almost every inning we've had tonight to do something special," Myers said. "We just didn't get it done."
After the game, Myers said the team's youth could be partially to blame for some of Auburn's mistakes tonight.
"It's a freshman club of various ages because we all haven't been together for a year yet," Myers said. "The confidence is something that is still growing and if we play good, which we didn't, then I think that'll help."
Despite the losing streak, Myers didn't expect any of his players' heads to drop as the Tigers look to rebound and take the next two against Missouri.
"The other team gives you indications of what you need to look for, and I think our preparation was good, so I think our confidence was good," Myers said. "Our confidence will be high tomorrow."
One thing Myers said is for certain, though: his team won't stop fighting to break the losing streak.
"We've got to take advantage of the opportunities that we have," Myers said. "If you've watched any of these games then you'll know our guys just don't quit."
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