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HATTIESBURG, Miss. – On what's expected to be a cold Wednesday, the Alcorn State University softball program will look to heat up the bats against Southern Miss in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. at the USM Softball Complex.
The games are a make-up date from the doubleheader that was originally scheduled for last Wednesday.
"USM is going to be a great challenge for us. They put up some runs this past weekend in Central Arkansas. That lineup is dangerous," said Alcorn head coach
Josef Rankin.
Senior
Simone McKinney leads Alcorn (5-12) with a .396 average and .418 on-base percentage. This past weekend at the Mardi Gras Mambo, she posted a team-high .375 average over five games as she went 6-for-16 with a walk.
McKinney is one of five Lady Braves hitting .300+ along with junior
Ashley Arnold (.359), junior
Amari Ramsey (.311), senior
Brittney Triplett (.304) and junior
Desirea Lindsey (.300). Arnold is on a three-game hitting-streak, while McKinney is on a seven-game reached base streak.
"We just need to compete. I say that all the time, but we do. It's competing without focusing on a result. We can't get too up and we surely can't get down. That's the area we need to be better with. Find a way to move on to the next play. That is what I would like to see tomorrow," Rankin said.
Alcorn's biggest inning this season has been the second where it has outscored the opposition 22-11.
Rankin, who is in his sixth season, has mixed and matched his lineups as he's been known to do. The Lady Braves have used 17 different batting orders in 17 games.
"We had some flashes this past weekend and those flashes just need to become a way of life for us. Swing it with bad intentions and pitch and play defense like you're the baddest lady on the field. Play with confidence and see what happens because you never know what can happen," Rankin said.
In the Alcorn career record book, Ramsey ranks fourth all-time in doubles (27) and eighth in homers (9). She's eight hits away from becoming the 15th student-athlete in school history to reach 100. Ramsey is a two-time SWAC Hitter of the Week winner in her career and won once this season on Feb. 19.
In the circle, senior
Ambria Dorsey has pitched 35.2 innings with a 3.73 ERA. She ranks fifth all-time in school history in strikeouts (163), sixth in games started (45), eighth in innings pitched (275.0) and 10th in wins (11).
USM (8-3) is coming off a 4-0 weekend at the Central Arkansas Tournament including lopsided wins over Jackson State 14-3 and Arkansas-Pine Bluff 21-5. The Golden Eagles are 5-0 against the SWAC this year which also includes victories over Mississippi Valley State 8-0 and 13-1, and Southern 9-0.
The Golden Eagles have two batters hitting for a .500 average including Amber Pack and Madison Rayner. Pack is 13-for-26 with three homers and 15 RBIs, while Rayner is 12-for-24 with four triples and three doubles. Kaylan Ladner leads the pitching staff with a 1.81 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 19.1 innings.
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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