JACKSON, Miss. – Alcorn Baseball looks to end a losing skid this weekend traveling to Jackson, Mississippi, where the Braves will face off against two Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opponents in non-conference outings, while meeting up with one opponent from the Big South for the JSU Tournament at Bob Braddy Sr. Field on the campus of Jackson State.
 
Alcorn's tournament run begins by facing the host Jackson State Tigers on Friday, Feb. 27, at 5 p.m. For a complete list of games throughout the weekend, please visit GoJSUTigers.com.
 
THE SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 27
5 p.m. – at Jackson State | Jackson, Miss. | Braddy Field | Live Stats | Tickets
 
Saturday, Feb. 28
Noon – vs. UNC Asheville | Jackson, Miss. | Braddy Field | Live Stats | Tickets
 
Sunday, March 1
2 p.m. – vs. Mississippi Valley State | Jackson, Miss. | Braddy Field | Live Stats | Tickets
 
IN THE RANKINGS
▪ Alcorn is not ranked in any of this week's five major polls
▪ Jackson State is not ranked in any of this week's five major polls
▪ UNC Asheville is not ranked in any of this week's five major polls
▪ Mississippi Valley State is not ranked in any of this week's five major polls
 
STATS & NOTES
▪ Since defeating Jackson State to conclude the opening weekend, Alcorn has love five consecutive games.
▪ The Braves offense has been held to a .177 team batting average while opponents are hitting .325 against Alcorn pitching.
▪ The Braves have struck out 84 times in eight games while walking just 27 batters.
▪ Opponents have been aggressive on the bases, going 19-for-24 in stolen base attempts against Alcorn catchers.
▪ Rayfield Adams III leads the team with a .286 average, going 8-for-28 with four RBI and a team-best 1.000 fielding percentage at his position. Additionally, he has reached base at a .394 clip.
▪ Jamir Holloway is posting a strong .389 on-base percentage despite a .214 average, drawing three walks in five starts.
▪ Myles Dews has been solid in relief as well, holding a 4.50 ERA over four innings with a .214 opponent average.
▪ Julian Jarrett has been errorless in 15 chances, turning two (2) double plays up the middle for the Purple and Gold.
 
ALCORN VS. JACKSON STATE SERIES
▪ Alcorn erased a six-year losing skid to its SWAC counterparts with a thrilling 8-7 10-inning decision over Jackson State earlier in the season as part of the MLB HBCU Power Series at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi.
▪ The Braves went 0-6 in 2025 against their in-state opponent from the capital city.
▪ Jackson State took a close 7-6 decision from Alcorn at McGowan Stadium in the second game of a Sunday doubleheader on April 27, 2025.
 
SCOUTING JACKSON STATE (5-4, 0-0 SWAC)
Head Coach: Omar Johnson (20th season)
2026 Batting Average: .290; Runs Per Game: 7.0; Hits Per Game: 7.9; Slugging Percentage: .363
2026 ERA: 6.20; K/BB Ratio: 1.70; Opp. Batting Avg: .223
 
ALCORN VS. UNC ASHEVILLE SERIES
▪ Alcorn has never faced off against UNC Asheville in baseball prior to this weekend's scheduled meeting.
 
SCOUTING UNC ASHEVILLE (2-6, 0-0 Big South)
Interim Head Coach: Alex Raburn (First season)
2026 Batting Average: .251; Runs Per Game: 5.9; Hits Per Game: 7.9; Slugging Percentage: .390
2026 ERA: 7.39; K/BB Ratio: 1.79; Opp. Batting Avg: .307
 
ALCORN VS. MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE SERIES
▪ Alcorn has dominated the all-time series with Mississippi Valley State, 166-96-1.
▪ However, it was the Delta Devils taking a hard-fought 15-12 win over the Braves in their last meeting in 2025.
 
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE (0-6, 0-0 SWAC)
Head Coach: CJ Bilbrey (Second season)
2026 Batting Average: .215; Runs Per Game: 2.8; Hits Per Game: 6.3; Slugging Percentage: .311
2026 ERA: 13.71; K/BB Ratio: 0.5; Opp. Batting Avg: .383
 
QUOTES FROM COACH HARDY
"You look at the teams participating this weekend over in Jackson [Miss.] with Jackson State, UNC Asheville, Mississippi Valley State, and there are no easy games. Every team we play this weekend is capable of beating us if we don't come ready to compete from the first pitch."
 
"We talk a lot about process here. I want to see us play Alcorn Baseball. That means I want to see us playing hard, playing smart, and playing together. If we do that across all three days, then we just might like the results. But again, this is a very good weekend of baseball against some good teams. It's going to be fun and challenging at the same times."
 
"Playing in someone else's backyard is always a great challenge. Jackson State is a tradition-rich program, and their fans are going to be into it. And truth be told, that's the kind of environment we want our guys in. It'll bring out the best in us. Not to mention, it gives our own fans a chance to come out to the ballpark and see us, as we know the Braves Nation is going to come support like they always do."
 
"Our guys have put in the work. We've prepared for this moment, and now it's time to go out and execute. I'm excited to see them compete this weekend after being on the road far from home the last week in Starkville and Houston."
 
RECAPPING ALCORN'S LAST GAME (at Louisiana-Monroe)
Jake Haggard and Jackson Landry combined for eight RBIs as Louisiana-Monroe defeated Alcorn 12-0 in midweek non-conference baseball at Lou St. Amant Field in Monroe, Louisiana.
 
With Alcorn playing its only midweek game leading into the weekend in Jackson, Mississippi, the Braves turned to weekend starter freshman Devin Kriley on the mound to start against Louisiana-Monroe.
 
ULM received a double from Bryce Blaser in the bottom of the first, putting himself into scoring position where he would swipe third before a Jake Haggard sacrifice fly to deep center field allowed the Warhawks left fielder to come home and open the game's scoring.
 
Garrett Oswald took over the mound for the Braves in the second inning in place of Nicholas Jonhnson who allowed three runs on two hits in 0.2 innings of relief for Kriley.
 
The Warhawks added three runs in the home-half of the second to step ahead 4-0.
 
ULM plated four insurance runs in the fourth to put the run-rule into effect.
 
A Davis Mauzy single to center scored Jake Griffith, while Haggard lifted his second home run of the season – a three-run shot to left that made it 8-0 in favor of the Warhawks.
 
In the sixth, the hosts Landry delivered a grand slam to left to produce the final 12-0 score line.
 
ULM starter Seaver Sheets (1-0) picked up first decision of the season in tossing five innings, striking out two and allowing just one hit. Reliever Seth Cooper finished the final two innings in the bump, allowing just one hit.
 
The loss went to Kriley (0-3) who worked an inning and allowed just one run on one ht. Yoni Castro saw action for the Braves out of the pen, giving up four runs on three hits, one walk and one strikeout. Myles Dews finished the final two-thirds of an inning with a strikeout and one hit given up.
 
For ULM, catcher Zach White was 3-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. Mauzy was 2-for-4 at the plate as the leadoff man with two RBIs and a run as well.
 
Alcorn received hits from shortstop Chase Moore and Adrian Vallescorbo, respectfully.
 
UP NEXT
Alcorn prepares for the home opener of the 2026 campaign as the Braves welcome Southern-New Orleans to Willie E. "Ratt" McGowan Stadium on Tuesday, March 3, at 6 p.m.
 
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