College Pitcher Makes Wild Barehanded Catch Of Line Drive, Shows Off Welt

I've now watched this catch from Henderson State University pitcher Matthew Baker during a game Saturday in the DII Central Regional Tournament, which the Reddies won 8-7 in 11 innings, and I'm still trying to figure out how the ball ended up in Baker's hand.

Watch it like 10 times. Slow it down. Watch the glove go flying. Watch Baker sorta cradle the ball after it appears to blast his glove towards 3rd base.

During a postgame interview, Baker said that when he was pulled in the 6th inning, he realized something was going on with the play going viral, but he wasn't sure of how viral. "I was walking down to the bullpen, and Arkansas Tech was like, 'Hey 3-2, you made SportsCenter!'" Baker, who went 5 innings, gave up one earned run, and struck out five, said after the game.

Then the pitcher showed the welt that the liner left on his hip. Needless to say, Matthew Baker earned his viral fame over the weekend.

Matthew Baker line drive welt

As for the Reddies' NCAA tournament run, it ended Sunday with a 7-4 loss to Minnesota State. The team finished 27-19, made it to the semifinals of the NCAA Central Region, and one of its pitchers ended up on SportsCenter. That's a season to remember.