LORMAN, Miss. – Fresh off the heels of the HBCU Celebration Classic in Montgomery, Alabama, Alcorn Softball is set for the 2026 home opener on Tuesday, Feb. 24, when the Braves welcome Dillard (La.) to Alcorn Softball Complex for a midweek non-conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
 
THE SCHEDULE
Tuesday, Feb. 24
1 p.m. – vs. Dillard (La.) | Live Stats
 
3 p.m. – vs. Dillard (La.) | Live Stats
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Keep up with everything Alcorn Softball this season by following the Braves social media platforms. You can follow @BravesSports on X/Twitter and @AlcornSports on Instagram.
 
STATS & NOTES
▪ After playing the first 13 games away from home, Alcorn will enjoy a four-game homestand beginning with Dillard (La.).
▪ Chiara Olison leads the Braves with a .417 batting average, as well as a second-highest .542 slugging percentage.
▪ Olivia Miller was 1-0 in the pitcher's circle last week, tossing a complete game in the win over Miles.
▪ Senior outfielder Ka'Miya Dillon has hit safely in all but two games this season, currently riding a three-game hitting streak into the week.
▪ Yahnya Acevedo leads the Braves with three home runs, hitting one last week in the team's 22-5 win over in-state foe Mississippi Valley State. One of her home runs was an inside-the-park homer at the River City Classic.
▪ In that game against the MVSU Delta Devilttes, senior Mariah Morgan recorded her first home run of the campaign.
▪ In the pitcher's circle, Alainah Felton and Olison have combined for 26 of the team's 29 strikeouts.
▪ Six different Braves have a perfect fielding percentage on the campaign, including Dillon and Rajayla McBride.
 
HISTORY
▪ Alcorn and Dillard have never met before in softball.
 
QUOTES FROM COACH BILLIE
"There's nothing quite like playing in front of our home crowd for the first time this season. Our players have been looking forward to this moment, and we want to make sure we put on a performance that our fans and this university can be proud of. Dillard is a competitive program, and we're going to have to bring our best effort from the first pitch."
 
"Home games mean everything to this program. When you play in front of your own fans, on your own field, there's an energy that you just can't manufacture anywhere else. We want our players to feed off that and use it to elevate their game."
 
"Every day in practice is an opportunity to get better, and this group has embraced that mindset. We're not where we want to be yet, but we're trending in the right direction. I'm proud of the growth I've seen from our returners and especially from some of our newcomers who are stepping up and making an immediate impact."
 
"Our goal has always been to peak at the right time. The early part of the season is about building habits and building confidence. If we keep stacking good days on top of good days, this team is going to be dangerous when it matters most."
 
SCOUTING DILLARD (4-5, 2-1 RRAC)
Rankings: USA Today/NFCA Coaches – NR | ESPN.com/USA Softball – NR
Head Coach: José Taitague (1st season)
2025 Batting Average: .395; Runs Per Game: 5.2; Hits Per Game: 9.0; Slugging Percentage: .537
2025 ERA: 7.11; K/BB Ratio: 0.83; Opp. Batting Avg: .338
 
RECAPPING ALCORN'S LAST GAME (vs. Miles)
Olivia Miller went the pitcher's distance in the circle Sunday morning in helping Alcorn Softball to an 8-2 win over Miles in what was the final game of the HBCU Celebration Classic for both teams at Barbara Williams Softball Complex on the campus of Alabama State.
 
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the first, Alcorn would quickly respond to score four runs across each of the first and second innings, respectfully.
 
The Braves used a Rajayla McBride single back to the pitcher to plate second baseman Sanai Salvant who walked to lead off. Alcorn then took the lead with Mariah Morgan's triple to right scoring centerfielder McBride and Olivia Miller. For Morgan, it was her first triple of the season.
 
The Purple and Gold made it 4-2 with Jamyiyah Cotten's RBI ground out to third that pushed in Morgan.
 
The scoring continued for Alcorn in the second as Miller drove a deep sacrifice fly to center, which was far enough allowing shortstop Karmen Bernard to come in from third with runners on second and third, respectively.
 
A McBride sac bunt then brought home Salvant to make it 6-2.
 
Two plays later, Morgan's sac fly to right and a throwing error charged to the Miles outfield, scored two more runs for the Braves to deliver the 8-2 final.
 
The Miles Bears got on the scoreboard first in the top-half of the opening frame, taking advantage of two walks and a passed ball. Kaylyn Cordero then delivered an RBI ground out that scored centerfielder Andrea Harris, followed by a Cassie Willis sac fly to bring home Jada Odom.
 
The win was picked up by Miller (1-1) as she tossed seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits, six walks and two strikeouts. The loss went to Miles' Gracey Adkins (1-5) in working three frames, giving up eight runs (four earned) on five hits and a walk.
 
UP NEXT
The Braves stay at home as Xavier (La.) comes to Lorman for an afternoon doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 27, beginning at 1 p.m.