The pinched sciatic nerve doesn’t cause so much pain in Austin Baker’s back that he can’t swing a bat. But it does hinder him in far more basic movements, such as walking and running.
So the senior wasn’t available to play in all of Arkansas State’s game Friday night at UALR. But when Coach Tommy Raffo asked, Baker said he could give the Red Wolves one good at-bat if they really needed it.
The situation presented itself in the ninth inning, after ASU erased a five-run deficit to tie the game at 8-8 with runners on the corners.