DALLAS – WKU’s
Morgan Sharpe and
Erica Houge, along with Jax State’s
Kailey Martin, earned Conference USA Softball weekly honors.
Sharpe becomes the first Hilltopper to be named Player of the Week, while Houge collects her second weekly honor after being named Freshman of the Week earlier this month. Martin nabs her first Freshman of the Week title.
Player of the Week – Morgan Sharpe, WKU – Sophomore – Shortstop – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Sharpe led the Hilltoppers (27-19-1, 12-10-1 CUSA) to a 3-0-1 week, including a 2-0 win over Louisville and a crucial road series victory over FIU that vaulted them into fourth place heading into the final weekend of the regular season. She posted a team-best .533 batting average across all four games, collecting eight hits in 15 at-bats, scoring two and securing two RBI along the way. Sharpe recorded multiple hits in three of the four games, including a three-hit effort against Louisville and a pair of RBI singles in the series finale. She reached base at a .563 clip to serve as a catalyst for the Hilltopper offense and posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, collecting 7 putouts on 13 attempts.
Pitcher of the Week – Erica Houge, WKU – Freshman – Collins, Iowa
Houge took the circle in all four games during an undefeated week for the Hilltoppers, which included an upset of Louisville and a key road series victory over FIU. She posted identical marks in ERA (0.79) and WHIP (0.79) in 17.2 innings across four appearances and three starts, striking out four and surrendering just three walks. Houge started her week with a two-hit shutout on just 79 pitches against Louisville, leading the Hilltoppers to their first win against the Cards since 2007. She followed it up by throwing three perfect innings in the series opener against the Panthers to notch her league-leading fifth save of the season. Houge also pitched the first 5.1 innings on Saturday, keeping FIU at bay until the game-winning runs came in the seventh.
Freshman of the Week – Kailey Martin, Jax State – Infielder – Marietta, Ga.
In a weekend where Jax State leapfrogged into second place and clinched a CUSA Softball Championship berth with a sweep of Sam Houston, Martin accounted for four of the 10 runs for the Gamecocks (33-18, 15-9 CUSA). She batted .571 with a .625 on base percentage and a 1.143 slugging percentage, leading the team in both average and slugging percentage. Martin slugged her 10th home run of the season – a two-run blast – and tallied an RBI single to drive in all three runs in a 3-1 victory to wrap up the series sweep. She came around to score a run in the series opener and roped a double as part of a multi-hit effort in Saturday’s win.
2025 CUSA Players of the Week
F10 Lauren Garcia, NM State
F17 Ajia Richard, UTEP
F24 Rachel Roupe, Liberty
M3 Ansley Blevins, MTSU
M10 Rachel Roupe, Liberty
M17 Rachel Roupe, Liberty
Devin Elam, NM State
M24 Rachel Roupe, Liberty
M31 Emma Elrod, Jax State
A7 Ajia Richard, UTEP
A14 Jenny Robison, Sam Houston
A21 Bri Garcia, UTEP
A28 Morgan Sharpe, WKU
2025 CUSA Pitchers of the Week
F10 Paige Bachman, Liberty
F17 Rylan Smith, WKU
F24 Kat Carter, Jax State
M3 Jaliyah Holmes, Jax State
M10 Elena Escobar, Liberty
M17 Kennedy Byrd, FIU
M24 Kendall Daniel, Sam Houston
M31 Faith Aragon, NM State
A7 Allie Floyd, LA Tech
A14 Kaylan Yoder, Liberty
A21 Allie Floyd, LA Tech
A28 Erica Houge, WKU
2025 CUSA Freshmen of the Week
F10 Jana Want, MTSU
F17 Macy Gregor, WKU
F24 Danner Allen, Liberty
M3 Leila Ammon, MTSU
M10 Jana Want, MTSU
M17 Leila Ammon, MTSU
M24 Marissa Burchard, UTEP
M31 Jaci Underwood, Jax State
A7 Erica Houge, WKU
A14 Kennedy Stinson, WKU
A21 Marissa Burchard, UTEP
A28 Kailey Martin, Jax State