Western Kentucky outfielder Kaleb Duckworth (13) connects for a single Tuesday , March 21, 2017, during a game against Kentucky at Bowling Green Ballpark. (Bac Totrong/photo@bgdailynews.com)

Western Kentucky junior baseball player Kaleb Duckworth earned College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America Third Team honors, it was announced Friday.

Duckworth was named to the InTouch Credit Union Conference USA All-Academic Team 10 days ago and the CoSIDA Academic All-District II Team in early May. The Henderson native earned all three honors in 2016 as well, making him the lone student-athlete in the league to do so.

C-USA all-academic nominees must be a starter or significant contributor to the team while carrying at least a 3.3 grade point average. In the classroom, Duckworth compiled a 3.96 GPA while pursuing a degree in accounting. At the beginning of April, he earned C-USA Academic Medal (3.75 GPA or higher) distinction for the third straight year.

Duckworth ranked third on WKU with seven home runs and fourth with 24 runs batted in. Duckworth led the Tops with 10 stolen bases in 11 attempts, starting in 41 of 55 games this season. He finished 2017 with four homers in his final 11 starts.

Overall, Duckworth is one of 33 in Division I baseball players to receive a spot on the first, second or third team squads and among those only one of eight to be honored for a second time in their career.

It is the eighth time a Hilltopper has earned the award, while Duckworth only the second student-athlete (Matt Rice in 2009, 2010 and 2011) to earn CoSIDA All-America honors multiple times in a career.