Alcorn State University kicks off Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball play this weekend with a three-game series against Alabama A&M in Huntsville, Alabama. The games are scheduled for Friday through Sunday at Bulldog Baseball Field, with first pitches at 1 p.m. each day, according to the schools.
Both teams are unranked in this week’s major polls. Alcorn has a 2-14 record on the season and has lost four straight games. Alabama A&M holds a 5-13 record and is seeking its first conference win of the season. Alcorn’s leading hitter is Jaylyn Bennett, batting .314 in 16 appearances, while the team as a whole is batting .215 with an 11.79 team earned-run average, according to statistics provided by the schools.
Alcorn’s pitching staff is led by Nicholas Johnson, who has 12 strikeouts out of the bullpen. Myles Dews and Kanious Davis each have two wins on the season, while Cooper Harris is batting .295 with four doubles and nine RBIs. Harris has also hit the team’s lone home run this season. Davis is 5-for-8 in stolen-base attempts for the Braves.
The series between Alcorn and Alabama A&M dates back to 2006, with Alcorn leading the all-time series 52-37. Last season, the Braves took two of three games in Huntsville, including an 11-inning win. Alabama A&M had previously won seven straight meetings from 2021 until last year.
Alcorn coach Daren Hardy expressed optimism about starting conference play. “We’re excited to get it started,” Hardy said. “Playing on the road against a quality team like Alabama A&M will be a challenge, but it’s a good test for us. Our guys have been preparing hard, and we’re looking forward to the competition.”
He emphasized the importance of the league opener. “Every game matters in the SWAC, and we understand that,” Hardy said. “We wanted to schedule tough non-conference games to prepare us for league play. That experience should benefit us as we go through the schedule.”
Alabama A&M, under second-year coach Louis Whitlow, enters the series with a 5-13 record. The team’s top hitter is Miles Jackson, batting .422 with 19 hits and 15 RBIs. Tervell Johnson adds power with three home runs and 14 RBIs. The Bulldogs’ pitching staff has an ERA of 9.31, with Anthony Mateo starting four games and posting a 4.44 ERA.
Alcorn’s last game was a 13-2 loss to Northwestern State in Louisiana. Bryce Johnson homered and drove in three runs for Northwestern State. The Braves will host Champion Christian College in a midweek doubleheader Tuesday at Willie E. “Rat” McGowan Stadium before returning to conference play.
