Katie Gardner and Brylee Hage from WKU Softball were named to the Conference USA Softball All-Academic Team, as announced Friday. This prestigious accolade recognizes their outstanding performance both on the field and in the classroom, with the voting conducted by academic advisors across the conference.
Gardner, a standout pitcher boasting a 2.45 ERA, leads Conference USA with a 14-11 record and 117 strikeouts this season. The Bowling Green native has consistently excelled academically, earning recognition on the Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll four times and receiving the CUSA Academic Medal thrice. Additionally, she has been honored as an NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete and has made multiple appearances on the WKU President’s and Dean’s Lists. This marks Gardner’s third All-Academic award in her five-year career, showcasing her commitment to academic excellence as she graduates with a master’s degree in speech-language pathology this weekend.
Hage, in her first year on the Conference USA All-Academic Team, boasts a perfect 4.0 GPA in her organizational leadership master’s program. A regular fixture on the WKU Dean’s List and a three-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll, the Nicholasville, Ky. native has also been a force on the field, batting .329 for the season. As the primary leadoff hitter for the Tops, she has amassed 48 hits and scored 32 runs.
As fifth-year seniors, Gardner and Hage are poised to make significant contributions as WKU heads into their final regular-season series against UTEP, followed by the Conference USA Tournament in Las Cruces, N.M. next weekend. Their leadership and academic achievements serve as inspiration for their teammates and the entire WKU community.
