OXFORD, Ala. – Meredith Kellum hit an RBI double in the sixth and Reese Cauley was dominant in the circle as No. 6 AUM defeated Trevecca Nazarene, 1-0, in the opening round of the 2025 Gulf South Conference Championship at Choccolocco Park on Wednesday.
 
Top-seeded AUM (35-10) advances in the winner's bracket and will face fourth-seeded Alabama-Huntsville (27-20) – a 5-0 winner over Valdosta State – on Thursday at 6:00 p.m.
 
With both defenses holding serve in a scoreless contest, the Warhawks capitalized in the sixth. Rebecca Komers singled and moved to second on a sacrifice, setting up Kellum's big hit. The freshman from nearby Leeds, Alabama, snapped an 0-for-9 skid with a line drive to the wall in right center to give AUM the first score of the game.
 
That was all that Cauley needed as she tossed her fifth complete-game shutout of the year, striking out five and allowing just one hit. The rookie from Elba, Alabama who was named the GSC Co-Freshman of the Year on Wednesday, improved to19-4. The Trojans had five base runners in the game but none advanced past first base.
 
AUM finished with five hits, one each from Chloe Baynes, Faith Wheat, Cauley, Komers and Kellum.
 
The Warhawks had a big opportunity to take command in the third when they loaded the bases on three singles but grounded into a force out at home and struck out twice, ending the threat.