Western Kentucky fifth-year senior starting pitcher Katie Gardner fired a complete-game shutout as the Hilltoppers completed a three-game series sweep against Middle Tennessee with a 3-0 win Sunday at the WKU Softball Complex.

Callie Bauer (volleyball), Catie Craig (women’s golf) and Katie Gardner (softball) were named Conference USA Scholar Athletes of the Year on Friday, as voted upon by the league’s Faculty Athletics Representatives. WKU’s three honorees were tied for the most in the conference.

Bauer, who was a redshirt sophomore and is from Hudson, Michigan, was named AVCA All-Region honorable mention in 2023. She also earned CUSA first team All-Conference and was named to the CUSA All-Tournament team, helping the Hilltoppers to a 30-5 mark and NCAA Tournament Round of 32 appearance. Bauer led WKU with 1,246 assists and added 136 kills, 186 digs and 27 service aces.

Craig, a junior from Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia, won two times during her 2023-24 season, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA East Lansing Regional. She was named CUSA first team All-Conference, and finished inside the Top 10 in all 10 tournaments leading into NCAA Regionals, with nine Top-Five marks. Her 70.8 scoring average shattered the program’s single-season mark.

Gardner, a fifth-year senior from Bowling Green was named the Conference USA Pitcher of the Year in 2024. She led CUSA with 16 victories in the circle and 136 strikeouts, totaling a 2.68 earned run average. She was also named CUSA first team All-Conference and third team All-Region by the NFCA. She finished her Hilltopper career with 48 wins, 509 strikeouts and a 2.88 ERA.