Alcorn State Braves will travel to face Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Western Division leader Prairie View A&M in a three-game series starting April 17 at Lady Panthers Softball Stadium in Prairie View, Texas. The matchup begins with a doubleheader on Friday and concludes with a single game on Saturday.
This series is significant as Alcorn seeks to break a four-game losing streak and improve its standing in the SWAC Western Division. Despite being at the bottom of the division, Alcorn has games in hand and could still qualify for the SWAC Tournament in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Head Coach Brianna Billie addressed her team’s mindset ahead of the series. “Prairie View has earned their spot at the top of this conference, and we respect that. But we’re not coming to Texas just to compete. We’re coming to win. Our girls have been preparing all week and they’re ready for this challenge.” Billie also said, “I love the hunger I’ve seen this week – both in our game at Memphis and practice sessions. We know what’s at stake in conference play, and the energy in our dugout reflects that. When we play with that kind of focus and intensity, we feel that we can compete with anyone.” She added, “Playing on the road in a series like this is a great opportunity for us. It tests your character, it tests your preparation, and it tests how much you want it. I think our young ladies are more than ready for that test.” On strategy she said: “Three games gives both teams a chance to make adjustments and really battle it out. We want to set the tone early and take it one game at a time. Every inning matters this time of year in the SWAC.”
Key players for Alcorn include Rajayla McBride, who leads her team with a .333 batting average over the past week; Yahnya Acevedo who tops team stats with 38 hits and 22 RBIs; Chiara Olison who has seven pitching wins; Paris Thompson batting .311 against SWAC opponents; Mariah Morgan noted for five multi-RBI games; plus Olivia Miller and Alainah Felton among six players each hitting three home runs this season.
Prairie View A&M enters with an overall record of 22-14 (14-1 SWAC), posting strong offensive numbers including a .339 team batting average under Head Coach Vernon Bland’s leadership.
In their last outing against Memphis earlier this week, Alcorn lost 7-2 despite an early lead after standout performances from McBride (2-for-2) while Jamyiyah Cotten added another hit.
The Braves will next play Southeastern Louisiana away from conference action on April 21.
