OAKWOOD SOFTBALL ENDS SEASON WITH DISAPPOINTING LOSS TO RUST COLLEGE IN HBCUAC CHAMPIONSHIP

DECATUR, Ala. – Oakwood University softball ended its season Thursday afternoon with a heart-breaking 6-4 loss to Rust College in the 2025 HBCUAC Championship at the Wilson Morgan Complex. The Ambassadors and Bearcats were tied 2-2 through seven innings, but Rust pushed across four runs in the top of the eighth, while Oakwood managed just two runs in the bottom half of the inning to come up just short in keeping its season alive. Toni Sims hit a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to pull the Ambassadors within 6-4. Unfortunately, Kaley Fuller struck out and Katie Johnson popped out with runners on first and second to end the game and Oakwood's season. The Ambassadors finished the season 9-30 overall, but did become the first Oakwood program to win an NAIA post season game after beating Rust 9-1 in Wednesday's opening round game. That's what made Thursday's ending so disappointing. Going into the game, the Ambassadors had dominated the Bearcats in their first four meetings of the season. "We needed some hits in some clutch situations and we didn't get any," Oakwood coach Bob Harris said. "That was the difference in the game." The Ambassadors managed just four hits in the game, one each from Sims, Anna Jones, Jana Morrow and Sydney Arnett. Arnett (7-15) took the loss, allowing five runs, two earned, on eight hits in eight innings. She walked one and struck out four. After holding Rust to just two runs through the first seven innings, Oakwood gave up four in the top of the eighth and that led to the season-ending loss. Sims, Arnett and Johnson were named to the HBCUAC All- Tournament team. Game 1 Sims' three-run home run in the top of the first inning staked Oakwood to an early 3-0 lead, but Stillman College, the league's regular season championship, flexed its muscle the rest of the way enroute to a 7-3 victory Thursday morning. After the Ambassadors' early success, Oakwood managed just one hit and failed to score the rest of the way. Anna Jones and Jana Morrow accounted for Oakwood's other two hits on the day. Arnett (7-14) took the loss, allowing seven runs, six earned, on nine hits in six innings. She walked four and struck out three. Game 2 The Ambassadors kept their season alive, erupting for 15 runs on 12 hits in beating Voorhees University 15-6 Thursday. Jones led the way, going 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Johnson was 2-for-2, scored three runs and had an RBI and Sara Tate was 2-for-3, including a double, scored two runs and had an RBI. Fuller was 2-for-4 with an RBI and scored three runs, while Sims had a hit and an RBI and Morrow had a hit, an RBI and scored a run. Mary McCluskey also had a hit. Careen Whitehead (2-5) got her second win of the season, allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits in five innings. She struck out nine. Follow the Ambassadors Visit the official home of Oakwood University athletics at Oakwood University - Official Athletics Website.
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