Alcorn State Braves softball will host Prairie View A&M for a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series at the Alcorn Softball Complex beginning Friday, March 13.
The matchup is significant as Prairie View A&M has been a dominant force in the SWAC Western Division, holding a 23-7 advantage over Alcorn since 2011 and winning the last 13 meetings between the teams. The Braves are looking to break this streak and secure their first series win against Prairie View since 2016.
Alcorn enters the weekend with a 9-11 overall record and is seeking its first conference win after weather postponed their previous SWAC series. The team boasts a .295 batting average, with Yahnya Acevedo leading offensively at .350 with 18 runs batted in. Paris Thompson has contributed both behind the plate and at bat, while Karmen Bernard and Rajayla McBride have also provided consistent performances. Pitcher Chiara Olison leads in innings pitched and contributes offensively as well.
Head Coach Brianna Billie said, “Anytime you get to host a series at home, it’s special. But when it’s against a program like Prairie View, the stakes are even higher. Our girls have been looking forward to this all week. There’s an energy around our program right now, and we want to channel that into three competitive ballgames.” Billie added, “Prairie View has earned everything they’ve built over there. They’re well-coached, they play hard, and they don’t beat themselves. We have a lot of respect for what they do. With that being said, we also believe in what we’re building here at Alcorn. We’re not intimidated by the moment.” She continued, “In [the SWAC], every series matters. You can’t afford to let a weekend slip by, especially against one of the top teams in the conference. Our goal is simple: come out and compete for three games and give ourselves a chance to walk away with a series win.” Billie concluded, “I’m proud of the growth I’ve seen from this group. They’ve bought in, they’ve competed, and they keep getting better. This weekend is a chance for them to show the conference – and themselves, what Alcorn Softball is capable of.”
Prairie View A&M enters with an 11-11 record (3-0 SWAC), led by Head Coach Vernon Bland in his fifteenth season.
After this weekend’s games, Alcorn will travel outside conference play for a midweek game against Nicholls on Tuesday.
