After a devastating loss in the 2024 Conference USA championship, WKU Softball looks to bounce back in the 2025 season.
The first four innings of the 2024 CUSA championship saw a flawless performance by former pitcher Katie Gardner and led to a 3-1 Hilltopper lead going into the bottom of the sixth. However, Liberty matched their intensity with another two runs, leaving the game tied 3-3 going into the seventh. After two more scoreless innings, the nailbiter of a game came to a close in the bottom of the ninth with a Liberty walk-off double.
“I definitely have a bitter taste in my mouth from it from last year,” senior catcher and infielder Randi Drinnon said.
WKU finished the 2024 season second in CUSA with an overall record of 33-20-1 and a conference record of 17-8.
Roster
Morgan Sharpe, a sophomore infielder, was the lone Hilltopper named to the 2025 CUSA Softball Preseason All-Conference Team.
Sharpe had a .966 fielding percentage and led the team in at-bats with 167 in the 2024 season. She started in all 54 games and was named to the 2024 All-Conference USA Freshman Team.
Drinnon leads the pack as the only senior on the 2025 roster. She was the starting catcher in all 54 games and was named to the CUSA All-Second Team in the 2024 season.
Additions to the roster include sophomore Maci Masters from Virginia Tech, redshirt junior Jenna Blanton from Kentucky and six freshmen.
The resumes of the freshmen are extensive including multiple school and state records across the board.
Collins, Iowa native and right-handed pitcher/utility player Erica Houge led the state of Iowa in earned run average (.330), batting average, (.633) and strikeouts (379). A multi-sport athlete, Houge was named the Iowa Star Player of the Year in basketball and softball in 2023 and 2024.
Originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, outfielder Kennedy Stinson set the Silverdale Baptist Academy record for hits (227), doubles (52), triples (16) and home runs (50) within her high school career. She was also named District Player of the Year twice.
Although a very youthful roster, Head Coach Amy Tudor is making sure her new additions, especially pitchers, are ready for collegiate play.
“Experience is huge for a pitcher because they have the most pressure on the field, so trying to get them acclimated to that every day of practice is very important for us,” Tudor said.
Schedule
Top competitors for the Hilltoppers during the 2025 season include Liberty and New Mexico State. Ranked first in the preseason poll, Liberty defeated WKU in the 2024 CUSA championship and holds the most Preseason All-Conference players with four.
NMSU finished the 2024 season ranked fourth in CUSA and was ranked third in the preseason poll.
WKU Softball has its hopes set on the 2025 CUSA championship as it will be held in Bowling Green.
“We do not lose at home,” Drinnon said. “That’s a big pride thing for us. So having the tournament at our place…makes us very excited.”
WKU is scheduled to play a few bigger universities such as Kentucky and Louisville. In 2024, Kentucky finished 12th in the Southeastern Conference and Louisville finished 11th in the Atlantic Coast Conference. WKU will host UK on Friday, Feb. 28 and UofL on Tuesday, March 25.
The Hilltoppers will kick off their 2025 season on Feb. 7 with the Buzz Classic in Atlanta against Belmont at 10 am. They return to the Hill to host the Hilltopper Classic from Feb. 21 to Feb. 23.
WKU will begin conference play at Sam Houston on March 7 at 6 pm.
Sports Reporter Adrianna Lein can be reached at [email protected].
