Baseball
Rust College Hosts Inaugural Mississippi Association of Players (MAP) Baseball All-Star Game
July 02, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – Rust College proudly served as the host site for the inaugural Mississippi Association of Players (MAP) Baseball All-Star Game, showcasing top-tier high school baseball talent from across the state. The event marked a milestone in Mississippi baseball, bringing student-athletes together for a week of development, competition, and opportunity.
Rust College Baseball Stars Earn Black College Nines Elites Honors
July 01, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS — Rust College Baseball proudly congratulates outfielders Kyrent Cole, Malik Berrien, and Shamaar Stapleton on their selection to the prestigious Black College Nines Elites All-American Team for 2025. These honors recognize excellence on the national HBCU baseball stage, as evaluated by the Black College Nines—a leading website covering the legacy and current success of Historically Black College and University baseball programs.
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’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 Baseball Set to Open 2025 Season with High Expectations
February 12, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS ? The Rust College Bearcats Baseball team is gearing up for an exciting 2025 season under the leadership of Head Coach John Bates, who enters his fourth year at the helm. After a challenging 2024 campaign, the Bearcats are looking to bounce back with a revamped roster and high expectations.
Rust College’s Malik Berrien & JaShaun Franks Earn Spots on All-HBCUAC Baseball Preseason Team
February 12, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. – The Rust College Bearcats baseball program is making waves before the first pitch of the 2025 season, as outfielders Malik Berrien and JaShaun Franks have been named to the All-HBCUAC Baseball Preseason Team. Both players have proven to be key contributors to the Bearcats’ success and are poised for standout seasons.
Campbell & Cole Named To GCAC All-Tournament Team
April 29, 2024
The #5 seed Rust College baseball program had two players make the GCAC All-Tournament Team in Sophomore Xavier Campbell and Freshman Kyrent Cole.
Wiley Gets Its Revenge To End Cats’ Tournament Run
April 27, 2024
The #5 Rust College baseball program got involved in a barnburner and came away empty-handed in the GCAC Tournament Loser’s Bracket Final to #1 Wiley University, falling 21-11 on Saturday evening.
Dega Throws Cold Water On Baseball’s Hot Streak
April 26, 2024
The #5 Rust College baseball program ran into the one team that was on a more impressive tear than they were on Friday night as #2 Talladega won its 14th ballgame in-a-row to put the brakes on the Bearcats’ roll in an 11-4 setback. The Tornadoes have lived up to their mascot, averaging a margin of ten runs per victory during that string that has lasted the past 20 days.
Demar Earns All-GCAC 1st Team, Berrien & Franks Land On 2nd Team
April 26, 2024
The Rust College baseball program was represented on the All-GCAC Team three times as announced by the league office Thursday night as Jalik Demar was a First Team selection while both Malik Berrien and JaShaun Franks were Second Teamers.
Bearcats Stun Regular Season Champs, Advance To GCAC Semifinals In Rout
April 25, 2024
The #5 Rust College baseball program’s miraculous run through the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament pushes forward as the Bearcats walloped the top-seeded Wildcats by a 14-3 run-rule decision in eight innings to put the team one victory away from its second straight Tournament Championship Game. The Blue and White snapped Wiley’s six-game winning streak and gave RC back-to-back wins during postseason play over the men from Marshall, Texas dating back to last season’s Black College World Series.
Campbell’s Complete Game Gem Advances Baseball Onto Winner’s Bracket
April 24, 2024
The #5 Rust College baseball program rode the arm of starting pitcher Xavier Campbell into the winner’s side of the GCAC Tournament bracket on Wednesday morning as the Bearcats doubled up the #4 SUNO Knights, 6-3.
SUNO Puts A Damper On Senior Day With A Nine-Run First
April 21, 2024
The Rust College baseball program fell behind 13-0 before their second turn at the plate, scoring five but giving up 15 to end the regular season on a sour note in a 15-5 loss in seven on Senior Day. Prior to first pitch, Head Coach John Bates and the team recognized its two senior student-athletes (Tony Grandberry and Brent Jackson), two Student Assistant Coaches (Jeremy Hatchett and Jalin Thomas), and Team Manager (JeKendra Milliner) for their dedication to the squad.
Stapleton Goes Deep, Tigers Pounce On Bearcats
April 17, 2024
The Rust College baseball program had a difficult time slowing down the Stillman sticks who averaged 13 runs per game in a twin-bill setback, 8-4 and 18-2 with both losses in seven.