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Auburn second baseman Emily Carosone throws to first base during the Tigers' 11-3 win over Mississippi State. (Lauren Barnard/Auburn Media Relations)

-- After a week away from SEC softball action, Auburn's offense picked up right where it left half.

The Tigers unleashed an eight-run barrage in the fourth to put the game out of reach and take an 11-3 victory over Mississippi State in the first game of this weekend's SEC series at Jane B. Moore Field.

Auburn (27-4-1, 3-1 SEC) took advantage of a Bulldogs pitching change in the fourth.

After three innings of two-hit work from starter

Alexis Silkwood

, Mississippi State replaced here with

Jayce Punches

in the fourth, and Auburn strung together on a two-run single by

Jenna Abbott

, an RBI single by

Emily Carosone

, a two-run single by

Morgan Estell

, an RBI single by

Kasey Cooper

and a two-run double by

Branndi Melero

.

Carosone added a two-run homer in the sixth, and Melero's RBI single ended the game by run-rule in the seventh.

"If you look at the history of this ball club," Auburn head coach

Clint Myers

said in a press release. "The second and third time through our lineup we start getting pretty tough. Those are the things we have to do a little bit better."

Tigers ace

Lexi Davis

struck out four and gave up three solo home runs in six innings to pick up her 14th win.