WKU softball’s Sharpe named to Preseason All-CUSA team
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — With the 2025 season just weeks away, Conference USA announced its preseason Coaches’ Poll and Preseason All-Conference team on Thursday. Both the poll and the team are voted on by the conference’s coaches. The Hilltoppers are picked to finish second and sophomore infielder Morgan Sharpe earned a spot on the Preseason All-CUSA squad.
WKU is coming off a season that featured their fourth-straight 30-win season and a trip to the CUSA championship game before coming up just short against Liberty in extra innings.
The Tops finished tied for a conference-best .297 batting average and a conference-best on-base percentage at .388. For the 2025 season, WKU returns senior catcher Randi Drinnon and Sharpe who combined for a .292 batting average over the 2024 campaign.
In addition to their bats, head coach Amy Tudor also returns a starter in sophomore Rylan Smith who finished with a 3.64 ERA and junior right hander Maddy Wood.
Sharpe earned the sole Preseason All-Conference honor for the Hilltoppers after a season that saw her start all 54 games and finished with a spot on the 2024 All-Freshman team. Over the season, she posted a .341 batting average—10th best in the conference–with 10 extra base hits and 26 RBIs. Starting at second base, she posted a .966 fielding percentage with 120 putouts and 79 assists.
WKU opens its 2025 season down in Atlanta, Georgia at the Buzz Classic hosted by Georgia Tech. The first game of the season will be on February 7 against Belmont at 10 a.m. CT.
2025 CUSA Preseason Softball Poll
Rank, School (first-place votes), Total
1. Liberty (9) – 99
2. WKU – 83
3. NM State (1) – 82
4. LA Tech – 71
5. Jax State – 56
6. Sam Houston – 38
7. UTEP – 36
8. FIU – 35
9. MTSU – 30
10. Kennesaw State – 20
CUSA Softball Preseason Player of the Year
Rachel Roupe, Liberty
CUSA Softball Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Elena Escobar, Liberty
CUSA Softball Preseason All-Conference Team
Name, Yr., Pos., Hometown
Ansley Blevins, MTSU – Jr. – C – Jasper, Tenn.
Bella Perez, Sam Houston – So. – C – Houston, Texas
Brynn McManus, Liberty – Jr. – DP/UT – McMinnville, Ore.
Ashley Phillips, Jax State – Jr. – IF – Alexandria, Ala.
Claire Raley, LA Tech* – Sr. – IF – Clovis, Calif.
Elia Hebel, Sam Houston* – Gr. – IF – Albany, Texas
Ajia Richard, UTEP* – Sr. – IF – Silver City, N.M.
Morgan Sharpe, WKU* – So. – IF – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Kally Meredith, FIU – So. – OF – Kaukauna, Wis.
Rachel Roupe, Liberty* – Sr. – OF – Sharpsburg, Md.
Alexis Gilio, LA Tech* – Sr. – OF – Lafayette, Colo.
Devin Elam, NM State* – Jr. – OF – Long Beach, Calif.
Elena Escobar, Liberty* – Sr. – P – Spring Hill, Tenn.
Kaylan Yoder, Liberty* – So. – P – Greenwood, Del.
Desirae Spearman, NM State* – So. – P – El Paso, Texas
* – 2024 All-CUSA selection
