Alcorn Softball Opens Season at River City Classic in Jackson
Alcorn State softball begins its 2026 season Friday at the River City Classic in Jackson, Mississippi. The tournament is hosted by Jackson State at JSU Softball Field. The Braves will play four games against Arlington Baptist, Alabama A&M, Jackson State and Dallas Christian over the weekend.
The schedule opens with a game against Arlington Baptist on Friday at 1 p.m. The team will then face Alabama A&M on Saturday at noon, Jackson State at 2 p.m., and Dallas Christian on Sunday at 10 a.m. Admission to the games at JSU Softball Field is free, according to organizers.
Alcorn finished the 2025 season with an 11-29 record overall and a 6-18 mark in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, according to team statistics. Key players returning include Yahnya Acevedo, who hit .333 last season with three triples, and Olivia Miller, who led the team with a .430 batting average, six home runs and 24 RBIs. Alainah Felton, a junior transfer from Southern Louisiana, is expected to lead the pitching staff after posting a 1-7 record last year with 32 strikeouts.
Head coach Brianna Billie, in her second season leading the team, expressed optimism about the new campaign. “We think we have a challenging schedule early on that will prepare us for the long run,” she said. “Traveling locally helps us ease into the season without the fatigue of long trips.”
Alcorn has never faced Arlington Baptist in softball. The team has a 33-25 all-time record against Alabama A&M, with their last meeting a 10-1 win in Jackson last season. The Braves also defeated Jackson State 4-2 in the 2023 River City Classic, but lost to the Tigers 8-2 last season. The team has not played Dallas Christian before this weekend.
Following the River City Classic, Alcorn will compete in the HBCU Collegiate Invitational from February 13-15 in Covington, Georgia. The Braves will face North Carolina Central, Maryland Eastern Shore, Coppin State, Bowie State and Howard during the event, according to team officials.
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