DALLAS, Texas – On Friday afternoon, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) announced its all-region honorees with Southern Arkansas Baseball's Austin Baker receiving second team honors in the Central Region. Baker is one of 11 players from the Great American Conference to appear on either the Central Region's first or second team.
 
A two-time All-GAC performer with first-team honors in 2021 and now a two-time recipient of NCBWA All-Central Region plaudits after claiming honorable mention status following the 2019 campaign, Baker's final season as a Mulerider has been as productive as his first three.
 
With a .408 average that ranks third in the GAC and sixth in the Central Region, the Amarillo, Texas native places in the top three of the GAC and in the top eight of the Central Region in runs scored (53, 2^nd GAC & CR), hits (64, 3^rd GAC, 8th CR), doubles (16, 2nd GAC, T6th CR) and stolen bases (21, 2^nd GAC, 4th CR), while owning league-best marks in on-base percentage (.518, 3rd CR) and hit-by-pitch (16, 2nd CR) which ranks 13^th nationally.
 
Included in his team-leading 64 hits are the aforementioned 16 doubles, three triples and three home runs. He has recorded 24 RBI and totaled the second-most bases on the team with 95, while his slugging percentage of .605 is the third-best for the Muleriders. Baker owns a team-leading 17 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI games to go along with a 17-game hitting streak and a 28-game reached base streak.
 
His efforts at the plate and on the base paths this season have pushed the senior to near the top of two of the program's career statistical categories. In a March 16 win at #17 UT-Tyler, Baker became the 11th Mulerider in program history to eclipse the 200 career hit mark and now has 244 career hits placing him third in program history. His 21 stolen bases this season gives him 86 for his career and places him in sixth place on the all-time list. Baker is one of just two Muleriders to rank in the top ten in both career categories.
 
An All-GAC Defensive Team member in 2019, Baker has played and started all 41 games for the Muleriders this spring fielding at a clip of 96.8% over 40 starts at second base and one start in right field. Defensively, Baker has fielded 23 double plays and recorded 95 assists.
 
Baker looks to lead Southern Arkansas into the Central Region Tournament next weekend. The Muleriders placed fourth in the final Central Region rankings before the selection show and will find out their NCAA postseason fate on Sunday night at 9 p.m. CT as the entire NCAA Division II Baseball Championship Field will announced via a live stream on NCAA.com.