Alcorn State University announced on April 22 that its softball team will celebrate its senior players during a four-game home series against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, starting Thursday, April 23. The series at the Alcorn Softball Complex in Lorman includes the resumption of a previously suspended game from March due to weather.
The games are important as Alcorn, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (UAPB), and Grambling State compete for the final spot in the upcoming Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament. Several teams have games to make up or finish because of earlier weather disruptions.
The Braves enter the weekend aiming to end an eight-game losing streak and currently hold a 7-8 record at home this season. However, they have lost their last eleven league games dating back to last year. Key contributors include Yahnya Acevedo, Olivia Miller, and Rajayla McBride—each with more than thirty hits this season—and Alainah Felton, who has tied for most home runs on the team. In pitching, Chiara Olison has recorded seven wins but holds a 7.06 earned run average over 120 innings.
Reflecting on Senior Weekend, Head Coach Brianna Billie said: “This weekend is going to be emotional; there’s no way around it. These seniors have given so much to this program, to this university, and to each other. Watching them take the field for their last home series as Braves is something I don’t take lightly as their coach.” Billie also said: “I just want them to go out and play free this weekend… They’ve earned every moment of it. Whatever happens, I want them to look back on this weekend with nothing but pride.” She added: “We’ve talked about channeling those emotions into fuel… these young women are competitors first… I know they’re going to come out ready to play.” Billie concluded: “We understand what’s at stake in this series, and our girls have been preparing with a sense of urgency. We want to give our fans something to be proud of this weekend.”
Historically since 2013, Alcorn and UAPB are tied at fifteen wins each in head-to-head matchups; Alcorn has won three of the last five meetings but lost their most recent completed game earlier in Arkansas by a score of 13-4.
After completing their regular season schedule against UAPB this weekend, Alcorn must still finish a postponed game versus Grambling State—a contest that could determine which team advances from the western division into the SWAC Tournament.
