Softball | 4/18/2019 10:00:00 AM

First-Place Lady Braves Travel to Alabama State for Three-Game Series

Alcorn Game Notes | Live Stats

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alcorn State University softball program will get an early look at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex when it takes on Alabama State at 6 p.m. Friday under the lights, followed by a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.
 
Alcorn (12-17, 8-4 SWAC) will return to the same complex on May 8-11 for the SWAC Championships.
 
The Lady Braves have won eight of their last nine conference games. They are tied with the SWAC East Division lead with Alabama A&M at 8-4, while Alabama State (17-19, 8-6 SWAC) is two back in the loss column.
 
The Lady Braves are coming off a series win over Jackson State. Alcorn has won seven of the last nine against JSU, including series wins three years in a row.
 
"We are looking to keep things moving forward. I am pretty sure Alabama State is going to be ready to go," said Alcorn head coach Josef Rankin.
 
Senior Paige Taylor is the reigning SWAC Pitcher of the Week winner, an award she's won three times this season. She posted a 2-0 record and 1.74 ERA against the Lady Tigers. On the season, Taylor has a 9-7 record with a 3.27 ERA in 94.1 innings. In conference, Taylor has a 2.56 ERA and 6-1 record.
 
At the plate, junior Simone McKinney hoists a team-high .341 batting average including a .432 mark in conference. She's submitted a team-high eight multi-hit games including a pair of four-hit outings.
 
Alcorn has outscored the opposition 18-5 in the seventh inning this year.
 
The Lady Braves have been making their marks in the school's career record book. Junior Ambria Dorsey ranks eighth in strikeouts (124), ninth in innings pitched (207.0) and 10th in starts (32). Fellow pitcher Taylor is tied for fourth all-time in shutouts (4) and ninth in wins (12). Hitting-wise, senior Victoria Tyler is seventh in RBIs (75) and 12th in hits (112). Sophomore Amari Ramsey sits in ninth in homers (8).
 
"We've got to continue to play tough and create opportunities to be successful. Once those opportunities present themselves, we have to work hard to take advantage of them," Rankin said. "Sooner or later as a program, you have to look at the success we've had over the last few years and play with a little more confidence knowing that you're a part of something good."
 
The Hornets, the preseason favorite, are looking to bounce back from a tough weekend where they were swept by AAMU at home. ASU is hungry for a win, having lost five in a row which also includes losses to Auburn and Mississippi Valley State.
 
Alexis Sydnor leads the team in nearly every statistical category at the plate with a .417 average, .467 on-base percentage, .593 slugging, six doubles, two triples, three homers and 22 RBIs. Hailey Walker is another power bat with four homers, 22 RBIs and a .322 average.
 
In the circle, the Hornets are expected to use three different pitchers. Justine Jean is 7-10 in a team-high 105.1 innings, while Charlene Castro is 3-2 with a team-best 2.43 ERA. Vanessa Bradford is 7-7 with a 4.22 ERA in 70.1 innings.
 
Alcorn has won five of the last six against Alabama State, having won the series two years in a row. The last time the Lady Braves traveled to ASU, Alcorn walked away with a three-game sweep in 2017.
 
"If we can be locked in from the first pitch and have unbelievable focus, relentless effort and amazing energy, we should be able to accomplish what we want this weekend," Rankin said.
 
Alcorn is 43-22 SWAC over the last four seasons, 32-16 SWAC over the last three seasons and 19-11 SWAC over the last two seasons; all marks are best in the SWAC East Division.
 
#FearTheBrave