Alcorn Baseball Begins SWAC Series at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Alcorn State baseball is in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, for a key Southwestern Athletic Conference series against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The three-game set runs from Friday through Sunday at the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex.
The series opens Friday at 3 p.m., with subsequent games scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. All games will be streamed online, with live stats, watch, and listen options available, according to the schools.
Alcorn enters the weekend with a 7-19 overall record and a 1-5 mark in SWAC play. The Braves have already surpassed their win total from last season and aim to match or improve upon their season-high of eight wins, the most since before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to team stats.
Key players for Alcorn include Jaylyn Bennett, who has hit safely in eight of his last 10 games and sports a team-high .329 batting average. Rayfield Adams III has stolen nine bases in 10 attempts. Keaten Hawk has also stolen nine bases and is hitting .253 with six doubles. On the mound, Myles Dews is 2-0 with an 8.31 ERA and 16 strikeouts. Four players carry three-game hitting streaks into the series.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which is not ranked in major polls, holds a 10-17 record overall and a 4-2 record in SWAC games. The Golden Lions are led offensively by Blake Coleman, who has a .300 batting average with two home runs. On the mound, Kenney Fabian has a 4.41 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 32.2 innings.
The series marks the first in Arkansas since 2024, when UAPB took two of three games from Alcorn. The Golden Lions lead the all-time series 25-12, dating back to 2009. UAPB swept last year’s series in Lorman, including a 12-9 game.
Alcorn coach Hardy expressed confidence ahead of the series, highlighting the team’s recent success and emphasizing the importance of sharpness in pitching, defense, and offense. He noted that UAPB is a program on the rise under Coach Logan Stout and that the series will be a tough challenge for the Braves.
Following the series, Alcorn will host Mississippi Valley State for a three-game set starting April 2 at Willie E. “Rat” McGowan Stadium, due to Easter weekend. Fans can follow the team on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for updates and behind-the-scenes content.
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