New Albany is 0-3 against Alcorn Central since March of 2023 but things could change on Thursday. The Bulldogs will be playing at home against the Bears at 6:30 p.m. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
New Albany took a loss when they played away from home on Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Monday. They were the clear victors by an 11-1 margin over Independence. The Bulldogs might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won three games by six runs or more this season.
Allie Ozbirn tossed a big game, tossing five innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits.
At the plate, Zakathryn Cameron was incredible, firing off two home runs and seven RBI while going 2-for-2. Laken Gordon was another key player, getting on base in all three of her plate appearances with two runs and one triple.
New Albany always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .621. The last time their OBP was this high was back in April of 2024.
Meanwhile, it may have taken eight innings to finish the job, but Alcorn Central ultimately got the result they hoped for on Monday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Wheeler, sneaking past 6-4. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Bears have posted since March 14th.
Sydnee Norman spent all eight innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three runs (all of which were unearned) on seven hits.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Journey Phillips, who went 1-for-4 with one home run and four RBI. Those four RBI gave her a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Adysen Davis, who went 1-for-4 with one triple and one run.
The victory made it two in a row for Alcorn Central and bumps their season record up to 12-10. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.5 runs over those games. As for New Albany, the victory snapped their losing streak at three games and leaves them with a 4-4 record.
Alcorn Central's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: New Albany has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .490. It's a different story for Alcorn Central, though, as they've only averaged .338. Will they be able to contain New Albany's hitters?
New Albany suffered a grim 8-1 defeat to Alcorn Central in their previous meeting back in March. Will the Bulldogs have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
