Softball Unveils Final Schedule As Independents In 2024

HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. – The Rust College softball program enters its last year without a permanent conference affiliation as the 2024 season will be the final iteration before the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference begins sponsoring the sport starting next campaign. 

Head Coach Kendrick Vivians and the Lady Bearcats open the year in Jackson, Tennessee with the Lane Dragons on February 6 at 2/4 p.m., marking the second straight season that LC is the first opponent on the docket. 

Next, RC will travel to Alabama for a pair of Tuesday doubleheaders with the Miles Golden Bears being the foe on February 13, followed by the Talladega Tornadoes on February 20. 

The ladies host Oakwood on February 22 in which they will honor all branches of the armed forces for Military Day as well as the team's home opener. 

Local rival LeMoyne-Owen appears next with a short trip up to Memphis on February 27 before welcoming home all Rust College graduates for Alumni Weekend on Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2 in a pair of single games against Miles. 

Into the woods of northeast Arkansas go the Cats on March 7 to face off with the Pioneers from Crowley's Ridge then the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy (UHSP) pays the Marshall Academy a visit on March 10 regarding Faculty and Staff Day at the ballpark. 

A road swing through the Mississippi Delta and St. Louis is on tap from March 12 through 16 as the Lady Bearcats play at NCAA Division I's Mississippi Valley State at 2/4 p.m. on the former date and Harris-Stowe on the latter beginning at 1 p.m. central time. 

RC hosts Southeastern Baptist for two on March 26 and will finish its home-and-home with the Ambassadors of OU on March 29 in Huntsville. 

The final road series of the season will take place down in the Big Easy with the Dillard Bleu Devils as the doubleheader goes down inside Wesley Barrow Stadium on April 6. 

Rust concludes the campaign with a long homestand beginning with Trail Ride Day versus Talladega on April 8, followed by a rare visit from a SWAC school on April 16 (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), and a two-day tournament hosted by Coach Vivians' squad on April 20 and 21 featuring a preview of the future GCAC members of Voorhees, Talladega, Oakwood, and Dillard. 

Lastly, the Senior Day doubleheader will commence the regular season on April 23 vs Crowley's Ridge at 1 and 3 p.m. with the lone senior class representative currently slated to be Taniya Bowers. 

To view the 2024 softball schedule in its entirety, click here.