Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech softball’s Elena Heng became just the fourth player to win multiple Rawlings Gold Glove awards, presented by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, after earning the honor as the nation’s top center fielder in 2026. Heng won her first Gold Glove in 2025 as a freshman left fielder.
The sophomore center fielder is the first player to win the award at multiple positions and the first mid-major player to earn two Gold Gloves. She joins Ciara Briggs, Jocelyn Erickson and Kendra Falby as repeat winners.
“Elena Heng didn’t just win back-to-back Gold Gloves, she has already built her legacy with grit, loyalty and pride,” head coach Josh Taylor said. “She has stayed true to Louisiana Tech, proving that greatness shines brightest when it’s rooted in commitment. Two seasons. Two Gold Gloves. One Bulldog forever.”
The top defensive players from all collegiate divisions — NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Division I, II and III, California Community Colleges and the Northwest Athletic Conference — are recognized with the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, presented by the NFCA. The inaugural NCAA Division I recipients were announced during the 2022 Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. The award expanded to include all collegiate divisions in 2023.
Heng, who was named the 2026 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, is one of three mid-major players to earn a Gold Glove this season. Since the award’s inception, only 10 Gold Gloves have been awarded to mid-major players, with Heng accounting for two of them.
The Bossier City native started all 56 games in center field for the Bulldogs and posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with seven outfield assists and 141 putouts. In two seasons at Louisiana Tech, Heng has recorded 248 putouts, 14 outfield assists and no errors.
At the plate, Heng batted .326 with 56 hits and 10 RBIs while leading the Bulldogs with 35 runs scored and 12 stolen bases.
Recipients are selected by the NFCA’s NCAA Division I All-America Committee following regional voting to identify finalists at each position. The committee uses fielding statistics and school-submitted video to evaluate finalists and determine winners at each defensive position.
