WKU’s White, Houge earn CUSA honors
Published 12:00 pm Monday, March 2, 2026
Western Kentucky junior Annie White (above) left was named the Conference USA Player of the Week on Monday, and WKU sophomore Erica Houge was named CUSA Pitcher of the Week. (WKU ATHLETICS)
Western Kentucky softball’s Erica Houge and Annie White earned Conference USA’s Week 4 Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, the conference announced Monday.
Both performances helped extend the Hilltoppers’ win streak to 10 games and posted a perfect 9-0 record at the WKU Softball Complex during non-conference play. In addition, the weekend brought the program’s 47th and 48th wins over Power Four opponents with two wins over Big 10 opponent, Illinois.
Monday’s announcement is Houge’s second Pitcher of the Week honor this season and third of her career. The award comes after the Collins, Iowa native threw the Hilltoppers’ 14th no-hitter in program history against IU Indy on Sunday.
Throwing a seven-inning complete game, Houge only needed 90 pitches to earn the win, averaging just over 12 pitchers per inning. Against the Jaguars, she struck out a total of six while not allowing a Jaguar baserunner past first base.
Across her three appearances, Houge earned three wins and threw two complete games. In her 18 total innings of work, she only gave up two hits and one earned run and also posted a 0.39 ERA while opponents only managed a .036 batting average.
White’s Player of the Week honor is both her first this season and in her career. The award comes after a weekend that saw her post a .529 batting average, struck out only once in 21 plate appearances, and went 9-for-17 at the plate scoring seven total runs.
The Paducah native also slashed a .529/.600/1.1.059 while also smashing two home runs, one of which helped set the team’s single game program record for home runs with six against IU Indy on Friday.
Her best performance was during the five-inning, 12-3 win over Illinois as the junior contributed five RBIs and went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate including a three-run home run.
The pair continue the 2026 campaign with a conference series against visiting Missouri State starting on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the WKU Softball Complex.
