Alcorn Game Notes
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Coming off a 4-3 week in Vicksburg, the Alcorn State University softball program will look to carry momentum into a mid-week doubleheader at Southern Miss beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the USM Softball Complex.
The Lady Braves posted a winning weekend at the River City Classic. Alcorn capped it off with a thrilling come-from-behind 10-9 win over Miles College after trailing by four runs late.
Over the seven games at Sports Force Parks, senior
Simone McKinney hit for a .500 average. She went 11-for-22 with nine runs, five RBIs, two doubles and two stolen bases.
On the season, McKinney leads the team with a .405 average. She's one of five Lady Braves hitting over .300 along with junior
Ashley Arnold (.370), senior
Brittney Triplett (.355), junior
Amari Ramsey (.345) and junior
Desirea Lindsey (.344). Ramsey and Lindsey have started all 12 games.
Alcorn head coach
Josef Rankin has been mixing and matching his lineups as he's done in the past and has used 12 different batting orders in 12 games.
In the circle, senior
Ambria Dorsey has pitched 24.0 innings and is 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA. She ranks sixth all-time in Alcorn history in strikeouts (152), seventh in games started (43), eighth in innings pitched (263.1) and 10th in wins (11).
Ramsey continues to climb up the Alcorn record book at the plate and is 12 hits away from 100. She ranks top-five in doubles (26) and eighth in homers (9). Ramsey ripped five doubles over seven games over the weekend.
USM is off to a 4-3 start, with three wins coming against the SWAC. The Golden Eagles beat MVSU 8-0 and 13-1, and Southern 9-0. USM also has a 9-1 win over Saint Louis.
"USM is playing extremely well. It's going to be a competitive matchup for us. They are swinging it extremely well," Rankin said. ""We have to make sure we are pitching and playing defense to match that. No extra opportunities. We need to be clean all around."
The Golden Eagles have three hitters above .400. Madison Rayner is hitting for a .500 average and 1.143 slugging with a double and four triples. Hannah Borden and Amber Pack hit for .444 and .412 averages, respectively. Pitching-wise, Kaylan Ladner carries a 1.95 ERA in 14.1 innings.
"From an offensive standpoint, we need to have some competitive at-bats. We have to get after it and keep the line moving as much as possible and do what we do. We kind of stepped into an identity this weekend and we need to embrace that and do what we do," Rankin said.
Alcorn and Southern Miss have played 20 times in the past, and the Lady Braves are looking for their first win in the series since 2009. The two teams will meet for the seventh consecutive year.
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