Alcorn Baseball Predicted to Finish 11th in SWAC Preseason Poll
The Southwestern Athletic Conference released its 2026 preseason baseball rankings Monday, with Alcorn projected to finish 11th in the 12-team league, according to the league office in Birmingham, Alabama.
Voted on by league head coaches and sports information directors, the poll predicts the Braves will finish one spot ahead of Mississippi Valley State, which was picked last in the preseason ranking. Bethune-Cookman was chosen as the top team, receiving 12 first-place votes and 209 total points.
Under second-year head coach Carlton Hardy, Alcorn welcomes 23 newcomers to the roster for the upcoming season. Notably, freshman pitchers Devin Kriley and Kayden Sutton were recognized in January as Impact Freshmen by D1Baseball.com for their contributions in the conference preview.
Last season, the Braves finished with a 6-43 overall record and went 1-29 in SWAC play. Their 2026 season begins February 13 during the HBCU Power Series, with games against Grambling State, Prairie View A&M, and Jackson State through February 15.
The HBCU Power Series will feature three days of nine-inning games, incorporating a 10-run rule to balance competition and fan experience. The SWAC regular season kicks off this week, culminating with the league tournament scheduled for May 20-24 at Rickwood Field in Birmingham.
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