LORMAN, Miss. – Alcorn Softball welcomes Mississippi Valley State to Alcorn Softball Complex for a midweek doubleheader on Tuesday, March 24, with first pitch of then opening game set for 1 p.m. Despite being played between two Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) member institutions, the games will be nonconference in nature.
 
THE SCHEDULE
Tuesday, March 24
1 p.m. – vs. Mississippi Valley State | Alcorn Softball Complex | Lorman, Miss. | Live Stats
 
3:30 p.m. – vs. Mississippi Valley State | Alcorn Softball Complex | Lorman, Miss. | 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
▪ Alcorn comes into the midweek at 9-18 overall, and 0-7 in SWAC play.
▪ The Braves are looking to end a 10-game skid in midweek when facing off against Mississippi Valley State.
▪ Yahnya Acevedo leads the Braves with nine multi-hit contests.
▪ Both Chiara Olison and Ka'Miya Dillon have totaled a team-high six-game hitting streak earlier in the year. However, Dillon has failed to register a hit in 10 of her last 11 games. Olison has not registered a hit in her last seven games, respectfully.
▪ Acevedo owns a team-best .338 batting average, followed by Paris Thompson (.308) and Dillon (.300) all hitting above .300 on the campaign.
▪ Three different Braves have multiple home runs – Acevedo (3), Thompson (2), Alainah Felton (2).
▪ In the pitcher's circle, Olison has a team-high six wins, owning a 6-10 record overall.
▪ The Braves have a 7.09 ERA as a unit, with Felton owning a team-low 6.55 ERA on the campaign.
 
HISTORY
▪ Since 1997, Mississippi Valley State holds a 69-42 advantage in the all-time series against Alcorn.
▪ The Braves have won seven of the last 10 meetings, including the last two on the spin.
▪ Earlier this season, Alcorn collected a 22-5 win from the Delta Devilettes in Montgomery, Alabama.
▪ MVSU last defeated Alcorn with a 16-15 outcome on March 19, 2025, in Itta Bena, Mississippi.
 
QUOTES FROM COACH BILLIE
"We've been through some tough stretches, but I'll tell you that this group has learned a lot about themselves during this time. Adversity reveals character, and I've seen a lot of character in this locker room."
 
"It feels good to be back home. Our fans and our environment give us a lot of energy, and we want to feed off that Tuesday."
 
"Mississippi Valley State is a quality opponent, and we respect that. But our focus is on us – coming out with the right approach in game one and carrying that momentum into game two."
 
"A doubleheader gives you a chance to really establish yourself. We want to come out aggressive, play loose, and remind ourselves what we're capable of."
 
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE (1-19)
Rankings: USA Today/NFCA Coaches – NR | ESPN.com/USA Softball – NR
Head Coach: Taliyah Riddick-Waters (2nd season)
2026 Batting Average: .3245; Runs Per Game: 2.8; Hits Per Game: 5.6; Slugging Percentage: .290
2026 ERA: 11.69; K/BB Ratio: 0.87; Opp. Batting Avg: .422
 
RECAPPING ALCORN'S LAST GAME (at Texas Southern)
Melonie Guardiola shut down Alcorn over the final 3.2 innings and Jade McQueen delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the fourth inning Saturday, as Texas Southern held on for a 3-2 victory over the visiting Braves in the second game of a SWAC doubleheader inside Memorial Park at Houston, Texas.
 
Texas Southern starter Miranda Pena allowed two runs on two hits over 3.1 innings but issued five walks and struck out five before giving way to Guardiola, who earned the win and improved to 3-1. Guardiola allowed no hits and walked two over her 3.2 innings of relief.
 
The Tigers drew first blood in the second inning when Lanay Carr doubled to left, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch by Alcorn starting pitcher Olivia Miller. TSU made it 2-0 in the third when Kylie Wilson laid down a bunt single, stole second and scored on a sacrifice fly by Karisma Garcia.
 
Alcorn responded emphatically in the top of the fourth.
 
Paris Thompson led off with a single to center, and Alainah Felton followed with a two-run home – her second of the campaign – run to left field, thus knotting the game at 2-2.
 
TSU replied immediately in the home-half of the fourth.
 
Mia Montemayor doubled to right and pinch runner Amerie Martin came around to score the decisive run on McQueen's single to right field, restoring a 3-2 lead that Guardiola would not relinquish.
 
Felton finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs in a strong offensive showing despite the loss. Chiara Olison took the loss in relief, dropping to 6-10 across the season after allowing one earned run in three innings. Miller, who started and went three innings, walked three and struck out one.
 
Wilson reached base three times, scored a run and stole a base for the hosts. Carr went 1-for-3 with a double and scored once.
 
Alcorn State stranded five runners and went 2-for-7 with runners on base, leaving a pair of scoring chances unfinished in the second and sixth innings. The Braves drew seven walks but could not convert.
 
UP NEXT
The Braves step back into SWAC play when traveling to Southern (La.) for a three-game series in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The series kicks off Friday, March 27, at 4 p.m.