HOUSTON – Alcorn Softball is set for a big Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series this weekend when the Braves travel to Memorial Park to face off with Texas Southern. The first game is set for Friday, March 20, at 3 p.m., with a doubleheader slated for Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
THE SCHEDULE
Friday, March 20
3 p.m. – at Texas Southern | Houston, Texas | Memorial Park | Live Stats
 
Saturday, March 21
3 p.m. – at Texas Southern | Houston, Texas | Memorial Park | Live Stats
 
3 p.m. – at Texas Southern | Houston, Texas | Memorial Park | 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
▪ Despite a tough record, the Braves have shown they can swing the bat, hitting a collective .279 as a team with 128 runs scored through 24 games.
▪ Alcorn has recorded 163 hits with 10 home runs and 101 RBI on the season, showing there is offensive capability throughout the lineup.
▪ Yahnya Acevedo has been Alcorn's most consistent offensive threat, hitting .371 with a team-leading 18 RBI, three home runs, and a .629 slugging percentage.
▪ Paris Thompson has been a steady presence behind the dish, hitting .317 with 13 RBI and a .423 on-base percentage.
▪ Alcorn has also swiped 33 bases in 36 attempts, making them a dangerous club on the basepaths.
▪ Alcorn's biggest challenge this season has been in the circle, where the staff carries a 7.13 team ERA and has allowed opponents to hit .341.
 
HISTORY
▪ Dating back to 2013, Texas Southern owns a 31-6 advantage against Alcorn.
▪ The Tigers have won seven of the last eight meetings, respectfully.
▪ The Braves have not won back-to-back games against TXSO since 2013.
▪ Alcorn took one of three last year in Lorman, but the Braves last win in Houston was a 4-3 victory back in 2024.
 
QUOTES FROM COACH BILLIE
"Anytime you get on the road in SWAC play, you know it's going to be a battle. Texas Southern is a competitive program, and we're looking forward to the challenge. We talked all week about competing with the same energy and focus whether we're at home on the Reservation or in someone else's backyard."
 
"This group has continued to grow every single week. These road trips are where you find out what kind of team you are, and I trust this group to respond. We've put the work in, and now it's time to show what we're made of."
 
"Every conference series matters, and you can't afford to take any weekend lightly in the SWAC. We're treating this trip to Houston with the same preparation and intentionality as any home series. The standings are tight, and we understand the importance of these games."
 
"I always tell our girls to embrace the moment, don't run from it. Competing in a tough road environment is an opportunity to prove who you are. I'm excited to see this team step up."
 
SCOUTING TEXAS SOUTHERN (14-6, 4-2 SWAC)
Rankings: USA Today/NFCA Coaches – NR | ESPN.com/USA Softball – NR
Head Coach: Raven Rodriguez (5th season)
2026 Batting Average: .312; Runs Per Game: 6.4; Hits Per Game: 7.9; Slugging Percentage: .475
2026 ERA: 3.18; K/BB Ratio: 0.55; Opp. Batting Avg: .253
 
NOTING THE PANTHERS
▪ Texas Southern is swinging red-hot bats in 2026, hitting a collective .312 as a team with 127 runs scored through 20 games.
▪ Karisma Garcia leads the team with 15 RBI and a .455 on-base percentage despite pitchers working around her with 16 walks.
▪ Jade McQueen has provided big pop, slugging .648 with three home runs, while Lanay Carr and KateLynn Cooper each boast averages above .360
▪ The Tigers pitching staff carries a solid 3.18 team ERA, holding opponents to a .253 batting average.
▪ Miranda Pena has been the staff ace, going 5-0 with a 3.50 ERA and a team-best 34 strikeouts across 32 innings.
▪ Garcia has been outstanding behind the plate, committing just one error in 107 chances (.991), and first baseman Destiny Menchaca has been equally reliable at .980.
 
RECAPPING ALCORN'S LAST GAME (at Nicholls)
Averi Paden tossed four shutout innings and the Nicholls State Colonels erupted for nine runs in the first two frames to run-rule the Alcorn Braves 10-0 in five innings as part of a softball nonconference matchup at Swanner Field in Thibodaux, Louisiana.
 
Nicholls starting pitcher Averi Paden (4-3) allowed just two hits, walked none and struck out three in her four innings of work before Lexi Dulany closed out the fifth. The Colonels' pitching staff held Alcorn (9-15) hitless through the first two innings and finished the game having surrendered only three hits total without allowing a single run.
 
The Nicholls offense flared up early, sending nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the first.
 
Leadoff batter and second baseman Claire Sisco reached on a single and swiped second at the top of the order, then scored on an Erin Krause groundout. Reagan Heflin's fielder's choice plated centerfielder Madison Moak, and Gabby Higbee singled up the middle to score right fielder Heflin.
 
Laylin Sturm capped the inning with a two-run single to center, pushing the lead to 5-0 after one.
 
The Colonels kept the pressure on in the second.
 
Moak doubled home Sisco, Krause followed with an RBI double, and Heflin singled in another run.
 
Nicholls catcher Nevanna Smith then singled down the line in left to cross Heflin and give the homestanding Colonels a 9-0 advantage through two innings complete.
 
Ally Mooneyham doubled and scored on a Sydni Stevens groundout in the fourth to account for the final run of the contest.
 
Mooneyham finished 2-for-3 with a double. Sisco went 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Moak was 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two stolen bases.
 
Chiara Olison (6-9) took the loss for Alcorn, allowing six hits and five runs in just one inning of work – her shortest outing of the campaign, respectfully. Olivia Miller relieved and pitched three innings, surrendering seven hits and five runs on the night for the Purple and Golf.
 
Alcorn managed just three hits in the contest and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
 
Hits were supplied from Jamyiyah Cotten, Paris Thompson and Miller for the Braves.
 
UP NEXT
Alcorn hosts Mississippi Valley State in midweek for a nonconference doubleheader at Alcorn Softball Complex on Tuesday, March 24, at 3 p.m.