Rust College's Jones, Joshua claim Week 4 HBCUAC Softball Weekly Honors
NEW ORLEANS - March 4, 2025 - Rust College softball athlete Rha'Khaya Jones wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Player of the Week. Leona Joshua garners Pitcher of the Week. The ladies were honored for their performances between February 24-March 2.
Jones hit .636 in five games. She scored five runs, drove in seven and stole four bases - helping the Lady Bearcats to three victories. Jones had two hits in the win against Lane College on Thursday and two in the finale against Voorhees University on Sunday. Three of her seven hits went for extra bases, including a home run in the opener against Voorhees on Saturday. Jones ranks second in the HBCUAC with 10 stolen bases.
Joshua struck out 35 batters in 17 innings. She tossed a no-hitter in the second game against Voorhees on Saturday, only allowing three walks and struck out 13. Joshua also had double-digit strikeouts with 10 against Lane College on Thursday and 12 in Sunday's finale against Voorhees. She went 3–0 for the week and posted a 1.24 earned run average. Joshua leads the HBCUAC with four wins and 46 strikeouts.
Additional softball weekly nominees: Sydney Arnett (Oakwood), Faith Byram (Stillman), Chaluncie Denny (Stillman), MacKenzie Smith (Oakwood)
2025 Softball Players of the Week
|
Date |
Player |
Pitcher |
|
Jan. 27-Feb. 9 |
Lauren Haskins, Stillman |
Avary Lumpkin, Stillman |
|
Feb. 10-16 |
Haley Weatherspoon, Dillard |
Mary-Elizabeth Landry, Dillard |
|
Feb. 17-23 |
Madison Bubel, Stillman |
Sydney Arnett, Oakwood |
|
Feb. 24-March 2 |
Rha'Khaya Jones, Rust |
Leona Joshua, Rust |
-HBCUAC-
About HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Oakwood University (AL), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org