Athletics News
Rust College Baseball Wraps Up Season With Notable Improvement and All-Conference Honors
May 12, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – The Rust College Bearcats have concluded their 2025 baseball season with clear signs of progress and several standout individual performances. Under the direction of Head Coach John Bates, the Bearcats finished with a 22-28 overall record — a marked improvement from last season’s 16-33 campaign. In conference play, Rust posted a 13-17 record in the newly formed HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC), recording more wins than the previous year and showing promise for continued development.
Rust College Baseball’s Jalik Demar and Shamaar Stapleton Named to All-HBCUAC Second Team
May 12, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS — The Rust College Baseball program proudly recognizes the accomplishments of Jalik Demar and Shamaar Stapleton, who have both been named to the 2025 All-HBCUAC Second Team. Their standout performances were instrumental in the Bearcats’ continued rise under head coach John Bates.
Rust College Baseball Standouts Malik Berrien and Kyrent Cole Named to All-HBCUAC First Team
May 02, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS — Rust College Baseball proudly recognizes the exceptional performances of two standout student-athletes, Malik Berrien (photo to the left) and Kyrent Cole (photo to the right), who have been named to the 2025 All-HBCUAC First Team following stellar seasons under head coach John Bates.
Rust College Softball Wraps Up Historic Season with Strong Postseason Finish
May 01, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS — The Rust College Softball team closed out a memorable 2025 season with a hard-fought run to the HBCUAC Conference Tournament Semifinals, marking one of the program’s most successful campaigns in recent memory.
Rust College Celebrates Athletic Excellence at Annual Sports Awards Banquet
April 30, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – On Monday, April 21, the Rust College Department of Athletics proudly hosted its annual Athletic Awards Banquet, an evening dedicated to honoring the remarkable achievements of student-athletes, coaches, and teams during the 2024-2025 athletic season.
Rust College Unveils Major Renovations to Kinzell Lawson Gymnasium and Athletic Facilities
April 28, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – April 28, 2025 – Rust College is proud to announce a comprehensive renovation of the historic Kinzell Lawson Gymnasium and several key athletic facilities, marking a new era of excellence in athletic competition and student-athlete support. Constructed in 1970, the gymnasium has undergone a complete overhaul following the appointment of new Director of Athletics Jeremy Patterson, whose vision is transforming our athletic environment.
Rust College’s Leona Joshua Earns All-HBCUAC First Team Honors as Pitcher
April 24, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS — The Rust College Athletics Department proudly congratulates junior pitcher Leona Joshua on being named to the All-HBCUAC Softball First Team for her outstanding performance during the 2025 season.
Rust College’s Ashanti Murrell Named HBCUAC Softball Pitcher of the Week
April 23, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS — The Rust College Athletics Department proudly congratulates freshman pitcher Ashanti Murrell on being named the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Softball Pitcher of the Week for April 14th–20th. This marks Murrell’s first Pitcher of the Week honor this season and the third total Player of the Week recognition for the Bearcats softball program this year.
Rust College Women’s Tennis Ends Season with Playoff Win and Bold Progress
April 23, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – The Rust College Women’s Tennis team closed out its 2024–25 campaign having taken significant strides under first‑year head coach Venecca Green. Despite the challenges of a small roster, the Bearcats doubled their match wins from last season, finished with a 2‑9 overall record, and earned a first‑round playoff victory at the national championship tournament in San Antonio, Texas.
Rust College Men’s Tennis Concludes Season with Historic Rivalry Wins and Significant Growth
April 22, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – The Rust College Men’s Tennis team wrapped up its 2024–25 campaign with marked improvements, standout victories over key rivals, and valuable national‑level experience. Under first‑year head coach Venecca Green, the Bearcats doubled their win total from the previous season, finishing with a 4‑11 overall record and laying a foundation for sustained success.
Rust College’s Malik Berrien Named HBCUAC Baseball Player of the Week
March 26, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – Rust College Baseball standout Malik Berrien has been named the HBCUAC Baseball Player of the Week for March 17th-23rd after an outstanding performance on the field. Under the leadership of Head Coach John Bates, Berrien delivered a dominant week against Voorhees University, Harris Stowe University, and Wilberforce University, securing his first Player of the Week honor this season.
Rust College Softball's Rha'Khaya Jones Named HBCUAC Conference Softball Player of the Week
March 04, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – The Rust College Softball program is proud to announce that freshman Rha'Khaya Jones has been named the HBCUAC Conference Softball Player of the Week for February 24th – March 2nd. This honor marks her first Player of the Week award in her debut season at Rust College.
Rust College Softball’s Leona Joshua Named HBCUAC Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week
March 04, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – The Rust College Softball program is proud to announce that Junior Leona Joshua has been named the HBCUAC Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week for February 24th – March 2nd. In her second season at Rust College, Joshua earned her first Pitcher of the Week award this year after delivering a series of dominant performances on the mound.
Rust College Women's Basketball Season Concludes with a Hard-Fought Tournament Run
March 03, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – The Rust College Bearcats Women's Basketball team wrapped up an eventful season with a bittersweet finish in the inaugural HBCUAC Athletic Conference Tournament. As the 7th-seed team, the Bearcats battled fiercely in the second round against 2nd-seed Dillard University, ultimately falling 57-59 in a nail-biting contest. The game remained close throughout until the final 30 seconds, when a series of costly turnovers allowed Dillard to build a lead and seal the victory with critical free throws.
Rust College Softball Makes History with First Ever Victory Over Lane College
February 28, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – On February 27, the Rust College Softball team etched a new chapter in school history with their first-ever win over Lane College, cruising to an 8-2 victory. This landmark win not only signifies a major achievement for the Bearcats but also sets the tone for what promises to be an exciting season ahead.
Rust College Men's Basketball Season Comes to a Close Following Hard-Fought Tournament Battle
February 27, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – The Rust College Bearcats Men's Basketball team concluded its season on a hard-fought note after a narrow 83-80 loss to 6-seed SUNO (Southern University of New Orleans) in the inaugural HBCUAC Athletic Conference Tournament. As the 11-seed team, the Bearcats battled throughout the game, staying close until early in the second half when SUNO built a 19-point lead. Despite a valiant comeback effort that brought the score to within one possession at 80-82, a missed free throw opportunity allowed SUNO to secure the rebound and run the clock out.