NASHVILLE — The defending Freshman of the Year in the West Coast Conference, Sam Buckley's encore performance this year has been better than anyone could have imagined. The sophomore infielder ranks third in the country with a 0.521 batting average, and has won two conference and two national player of the week honors this season. Buckley can now add to her laundry list of accolades, being named to the top-15 positional power rankings by Softball America, as their #12 third baseman heading into the month of April. Buckley is one of just five mid-major players listed amongst the top-15 third basemen, and is the third highest ranked amongst mid-major players, behind Coastal Carolina's Delaney Keith and Charlotte's Jenna Lord. She is the only player on the list boasting a batting average over 0.500. 

This past month, Buckley has put together other-worldly numbers that garnered her this national attention. The Burbank, California native batted 0.548 (23-42) over 15 games with six doubles, a triple, eight home runs, 21 runs scored and 22 RBI. She reached base in 13 of the 15 games this month, and scored in 12 of the 15. Buckley also recorded the first three home run game in program history last week vs Idaho State. She is now just one home run shy of tying the program single season record, and two shy of breaking it. On top of all the offensive achievements, Buckley also committed just one error in the field for the month in 46 chances at the hot corner. 

After not playing a game last week, the Gaels will have five games this week to open up the month of April, taking on UC Davis later today on the road, Stanford on the road tomorrow, and a three game conference opening set this weekend at Pacific.

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