OAKWOOD SOFTBALL DOMINATES RUST COLLEGE IN HBCUAC CHAMPIONSHIP

DECATUR, Ala. – Sydney Arnett dominated in the circle and Ashlyn Hallman, Toni Sims and Mary McCluskey combined for eight of Oakwood University's 11 hits as the Ambassadors whipped Rust College 9-1 Monday afternoon in the opening round of the 2025 HBCUAC Softball Championship at the Morgan Wilson Complex. Oakwood softball becomes the first program to win a postseason game since moving to the NAIA level three years ago. The win sends No. 4 seed Oakwood (8-28) into today's winner's bracket game against HBCUAC regular season champion and No. 1 seed Stillman College (30-11) today at 9:30 a.m. Stillman took all three games during the regular season, beating Oakwood 8-3 and 11-1 earlier this month. Oakwood forfeited the last game of the three-game series. The Ambassadors took control early in Monday's game. Arnett's two-run single in the bottom of the first inning scored Jordan Howard and Katie Johnson to give Oakwood an early 2-0 lead. Later in the inning, Jana Morrow grounded out to score Anna Jones to make it 3-0. Oakwood pushed across a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it 4-0. Arnett, who picked up her seventh win of the season, gave up her lone run in the top of the fifth. She finished with a two-hitter, walked four and struck out nine in six innings. The Ambassadors scored another run in the bottom of the fifth inning and then tacked on four more in the bottom of the win to win going away. Hallman was 3-for-4, including a double and had an RBI. Sims was 3-for-3 with an RBI and scored two runs. McCluskey was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Arnett was 1-for-4 with three RBI and scored a run, while Jones was 1-for-3 and scored two runs. Johnson was 1-for-3, including a double, and scored two runs. Howard scored two runs, while Morrow finished with two RBI. Follow the Ambassadors Visit the official home of Oakwood University athletics at Oakwood University - Official Athletics Website.  
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