MONROE, La. – For the fourth time in the last five days, Alcorn Softball plays in the "Bayou State" as the Braves travel to Louisiana-Monroe for a midweek contest against the Warhawks at ULM Softball Complex, taking place Tuesday, March 31, at 4 p.m.
 
THE SCHEDULE
Tuesday, March 31
4 p.m. – at Louisiana-Monroe | ULM Softball Complex | Monroe, La. | Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
 
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
▪ Three different Braves have three home runs on the year – Yahnya Acevedo, Mariah Morgan and Paris Thompson.
▪ Alcorn is 3-6 against teams from the state of Louisiana on the campaign.
▪ The Braves have lost their last 16 games in the "Bayou State", with the last victory being a 1-0 win over Grambling State on April 27, 2024.
▪ Chiara Olison owns seven wins for the Braves in the pitcher's circle, carrying a 6.73 ERA and 22 strikeouts.
▪ Ka'Miya Dillon remains perfectly defensively with 46 putouts and five assists in 51 total opportunities for the Purple and Gold.
▪ As a group, the Braves have stolen 40 bases in 44 chances, with seven runners remaining perfect on the base path.
▪ Alcorn hit a season-best three home runs as a team in its last outing as part of the second game of a doubleheader at Southern (La.) over the weekend. The Braves are seventh in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in that department.
▪ Olivia Miller enters the week on a three-game hitting streak for the Braves.
▪ Acevedo tops the Braves with 11 multi-hit performances, followed by Thompson (6) and Miller (5).
▪ Dillon remains one of the hardest players to strike out nationally, having been punched out just three times in 62 at-bats. On average, she strikes out just once around every 21 at-bats, respectfully.
 
HISTORY
▪ Louisiana-Monroe owns a commanding 14-2 advantage all-time in the series against Alcorn.
▪ The Warhawks have won the last six consecutive in the series.
▪ Alcorn's last win was a 4-3 decision on Feb. 21, 2014, in Monroe, Louisiana.
▪ The last time the two teams met was a doubleheader on February 14, 2024, with ULM sweeping both legs 9-1 (5 innings) and 12-2 (5 innings), respectfully, in Monroe.
 
QUOTES FROM COACH BILLIE
"We're looking forward to the challenge. ULM is a Sun Belt program playing really good softball right now, so we know we have to be at our best. Our kids are excited, and I think going on the road in a midweek game like this can really sharpen you heading into the backend of the season."
 
"For us, it comes down to execution. We've been putting in the work, and I want to see that translate on Tuesday evening. I want us to compete with the right energy and stay disciplined in the box and in the circle."
 
"Midweek games are big for your program. They give kids a chance to grow and they give us a look at ourselves outside of [the SWAC]. We're not going to Monroe just to show up. We're going there to compete and try to win."
 
"I keep telling this group that every game is a chance to make a statement about who you are, and forget about the mistakes or misfortunes of the previous week. That's over. Gone. We move forward."
 
SCOUTING ULM (22-17, 6-3 SUN BELT)
Rankings: USA Today/NFCA Coaches – NR | ESPN.com/USA Softball – NR
Head Coach: Molly Fichtner (7th season)
2026 Batting Average: .284; Runs Per Game: 4.0; Hits Per Game: 7.3; Slugging Percentage: .410
2026 ERA: 3.27; K/BB Ratio: 1.6; Opp. Batting Avg: .267
 
RECAPPING ALCORN'S LAST GAME (at Southern University)
Alcorn led 7-5 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, but Southern University erupted for five runs in the home-half Saturday afternoon to complete a doubleheader sweep of the Braves, 10-7, at Lady Jaguar Field.
 
Mariah Morgan, a senior from Ripley, Tennessee, gave Alcorn an early jolt, blasting a three-run home run – her team-high matching third of the season, to right field in the top of the first inning to score Khi Rather and Yahnya Acevedo, respectfully, and stake the Braves to a 3-0 lead. It was one of three home runs Alcorn would hit on the afternoon across the two games.
 
Southern responded immediately, when left fielder Jaciee Massey sent a two-run shot clear the wall in right in the bottom of the first to pull the Jaguars within one, 3-2.
 
The lead changed hands twice in the second inning.
 
Braves first baseman Layla Watts led off the top half with a solo home run to center field to push the Alcorn advantage back to 4-2, but Southern (La.) stormed back with three runs in the bottom half.
 
Prestaisha White, the Jaguars third baseman, homered to left field, Laila Clark doubled home Massey, and Ariel Burton singled and advanced on a throwing error to score Clark, giving the Jaguars a 5-4 advantage.
 
The Purple and Gold retook the advantage in the third.
 
Pitcher Olivia Miller registered a two-run home run – her second of the campaign – to straightaway center field that scored Makayla Lindsey and pushed the Braves in front 7-5. A sacrifice fly by Paris Thompson earlier in the inning had tied the game at 5-5, respectfully.
 
Southern (La.) starter Jordynn Jennings and reliever Hayley Hinds struggled early, combining to allow seven runs over the first three innings. But Aaliyah Zabala entered in the third and was dominant the rest of the way, retiring the Braves in order over her final four-plus innings on the rubber and allowing just one hit across 4.1 frames to earn the win and improve to 10-3.
 
The sixth inning was the decisive turn in the contest.
 
Massey singled and scored on a Clark single, Clark scored on an Abigail Mitchell double to tie the game at seven, and then Burton delivered a key two-run homer to left center that put Southern (La.) ahead for good at 9-7. Kira Manganello added a sacrifice fly to cap the five-run frame for the host Jaguars.
 
Alcorn went quietly in the seventh, going down in order to end the game.
 
Acevedo added two hits for the Purple and Gold to lead the offense.
 
Miller took the loss for the Braves, dropping her record for the year at 2-3, as she allowed all 10 runs on 14 hits across five innings. Three home runs by Massey, Burton and White powered Southern's offense, with Burton finishing 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
 
UP NEXT
Alcorn welcomes Grambling State to Alcorn Softball Complex for a three-game league series beginning Friday, April 3, at 4 p.m., in Lorman, Mississippi.