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VICKSBURG, Miss. - Coming off of an 11-win improvement in league play from 2015 to 2016, the 2017 Alcorn State softball squad is primed to continue that level of play Thursday when it opens the season with a doubleheader against Kentucky State University at the Vicksburg High School Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT.
The softball field is located at Army Navy Drive. Alcorn and VHS students are encouraged to attend as seating on the hill is free with a valid school ID. The first 100 fans through the gate will receive a multi-sport poster displaying the Braves baseball and Lady Braves softball full home schedules.
2016 Coach of the Year Josef Rankin and the Lady Braves return seven starters including their top-four hitters, senior trio Sametria Collins, Adriana Gutierrez and Vanessa Sanders and junior first baseman Taylor Hughes.
Hughes and Collins earned Preseason All-SWAC first and second team accolades, respectively, after outstanding 2016 campaigns.
Alcorn State's pitching staff notched the third-best ERA in league play last season. Senior Jazmin Castillo returns with a group of newcomers in juniors Madi Creed and Robin Harrison and freshman Ambria Dorsey in hopes to remain at the top-end of the spectrum.
The two positions that the Lady Braves must replace are catcher and shortstop. Senior Katie Gore, while serving as Hannah Vesper's backup, made 18 starts behind the plate last season. The two most likely candidates to fill the void at shortstop are junior Bre Glenn and freshman speedster Alicia Hill.
The outfield is the position where Alcorn is the deepest. The squad has six outfielders listed on the roster and all five returners, with the exception of newcomer Mariah Ortiz, saw significant playing time last season.
The Lady Braves will face a very experienced KSU team that has returned all of its starters from last season. The Thorobrettes will have eight seniors at their disposal for the 2017 season including team captain Tyneisha Wilson who fronted the team with a .414 batting average last year.
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