AUBURN, Ala. - A clutch two-run home run in the fifth inning from Nelia Peralta proved the difference as No. 21 Auburn softball (31-12, 8-5 SEC) squashed an LSU (33-9, 6-7) seventh-inning rally to hang on for a 5-3 win in Friday's series opener at Jane B. Moore Field.

"Scoring early gives everyone confidence," said head coach Mickey Dean. "I thought we did a nice job of not letting up and continuing to score throughout the game. We had some good at-bats, both hits and walks, that allowed us to build up a big enough cushion to finish them off."

Junior Maddie Penta tossed six shutout innings, but the Bayou Bengals connected on a pair of home runs in the seventh inning to cut the lead to 5-3. Penta settled down and forced a ground out and fly out to center to secure the win.

In her complete-game effort, Penta allowed her three runs off six hits. The right-hander did not issue a walk and struck out five in the outing to improve to 19-5 in the circle.

At the plate, Auburn totaled eight hits with big home runs for Peralta and Lindsey Garcia. The duo drove in four of Auburn's five runs. Aubrie Lisenby turned in the lone multi-hit game by an Auburn Tiger as she went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Garcia delivered in the first inning to give Auburn the early lead. Lisenby set the table, beating out an infield single. Garcia connected on a ball high in zone for her eighth home run of the season.

"I don't care where I am at in the lineup," Garcia said. "I'm just trying to score runs, come up big for my team and make things happen. For me, 0-2 means nothing. I approach every pitch like the count is 0-0. I'm locked in and trying find a strike to hit hard."

Icess Tresvik led off the second with a walk and moved into scoring position with a one-out stolen base. Tresvik attempted to score on a Rose Roach single up the middle, but the Bayou Bengals made the play at the plate.

Auburn returned the favor in the top of the fourth. LSU led off with a single and used a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch to move the runner to third. With Denver Bryant playing behind the bag, LSU attempted to squeeze home the run and missed putting down the bunt. Lisenby fired to Bryant to apply the tag.

A one-out double from Bri Ellis turned into a pivotal insurance run. KK McCrary singled through the right side out of the reach of a diving LSU second base to drive in pinch runner Skylar Elkins and push the lead to 3-0.

Makayla Packer singled to lead off the fifth before swiping second to move herself into scoring position. Peralta lined a home run to left center to plate crucial insurance runs that would ultimately clinch the game.

"I was battling in my two previous at-bats, so I was focused on doing my job to move the runner on second," Peralta said. "The pitcher made a mistake, and it worked out for me."

Auburn searches for its first series win over LSU since 2017 on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CT. Fans can stream the contest on SEC Network+.