Notre Dame is one of the better teams in the ACC this season, and one player now will the rewards of it now. [autotag]Karina Gaskins[/autotag], the Irish’s sophomore first baseman, has been named the conference’s player of the year. Gaskins has been instrumental in the 39-9 record the Irish are taking into the ACC Tournament. She is the third Notre Dame player to receive the honor, joining an exclusive club also occupied by [autotag]Cait Brooks[/autotag] (2019) and [autotag]Emilee Koerner[/autotag] (2015).
Gaskins leads the ACC in batting average (.433) and RBIs (57). Her 11 doubles and 12 home runs have contributed to her .803 slugging percentage. With a .562 on-base percentage, she also is projected to break the Irish’s single-season on-base percentage record, which was set by [autotag]Abby Sweet[/autotag] in 2021 at .537.
Gaskins also is the only Irish player on the All-ACC First Team. Sweet and four other players are on the Second Team, and freshman pitcher [autotag]Shannon Becker[/autotag] has made the Third Team.
Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89