Alcorn Game Notes | Live Stats
FLORENCE, Ala. – The 24th season of softball at Alcorn State University will begin this weekend when the Lady Braves play a pair of games against both Tennessee State and the host North Alabama at Hilda B. Anderson Stadium.
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The season-opener is Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against TSU, followed by a 5 p.m. game later that day against North Alabama. On Sunday, the Lady Braves will take on the Lions at 11 a.m., and will close it out against the Tigers at 1 p.m.
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"We are excited to get started. We have faced some adversity with the weather and losing a lot of days on the field, but our players have handled it extremely well. I really like this team. We have some hungry veterans who did like the way they performed last year. Some of them bought in to doing extra work to prepare themselves for a better year," said Alcorn head coach
Josef Rankin.
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Rankin enters his sixth season at the helm. The Lady Braves have gone four consecutive years without a losing season in conference, which had never been done before in program history. The run included back-to-back SWAC East Division titles in 2017 & 2018. Rankin was inducted into the St. Martin High School Hall of Fame on Jan. 25, 2020.
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"The challenge I have for our team is can we attack every opportunity? We will face some quality opponents," Rankin said.
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The Lady Braves landed a pair of Preseason All-Conference First-Team selections in senior outfielder
Simone McKinney and junior third baseman
Amari Ramsey.
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In conference play last year, Ramsey led the Lady Braves in batting average (.367) and slugging percentage (.667). She knocked 22 hits in 60 at-bats including eight doubles, two triples and a pair of homers. It went along with team-highs of 16 runs scored and 16 RBI's. She started all 18 games at third base.
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McKinney hit for a .322 average on the year and .365 in conference. She started all 18 conference games in center field with 23 hits in 63 at-bats and a .403 on-base percentage. McKinney went on a seven-game hitting-streak and 12-game on-base streak this season, which were both team-longs. She registered a team-high nine multi-hit games including a pair of four-hit outings.
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In the Alcorn career record book, senior pitcher
Ambria Dorsey enters the season ranked sixth all-time in school history in strikeouts (142), eighth in innings pitched (239.1) and ninth in games started (38). Hitting-wise, Ramsey is eighth in homers (9) and 10th in doubles (20).
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The Lady Braves brought in five newcomers including three freshmen and a trio of transfers. They return six of nine starters, including two of their three pitchers that saw action.
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TSU finished 13-29 last year, but returns its top six hitters and two top pitchers. Raven Loveless is the ace of the staff after recording 11 wins and a save with a 2.96 ERA.
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"Tennessee State has some really good players. I know their senior pitcher Powell is returning from an injury for her senior season. From what I've seen, she's had a pretty good career – glad to see she is getting back. I would have to think if we don't see her, we will see the sophomore Loveless. She's going to throw strikes. I think she had 31 walks in 142 innings. She's going to spin it well," Rankin said.
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North Alabama also has a star pitcher in Megan Garst who is coming off a 16-6 season with a 0.83 ERA. She led the Lions to a 26-20 overall record.
"North Alabama has a quality program. Garst is legit in the circle. Their players play hard and make plays. I really enjoy their energy. Coach Ashley does an awesome job with her program. They are some really good people," Rankin said.
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Alcorn's first home game will be Thursday, Feb. 13 when it hosts Kentucky State in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.
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