Thanks to an umpiring snafu and upheld protest, Saturday 4/24's first game of the Mercyhurst Lakers v Seton Hill Griffins doubleheader officially does not exist, after umpires reversed a strike three call leading to a chain reaction of critical events. Article: www.closecallsports.com/2021/...
With one out and one on in the bottom of the 2nd inning and MU leading 2-1, SMU batter Tyler Peterson took a 3-2 pitch for a called third strike. The home plate umpire then called the batter out for interference as the catcher attempted to throw out a stealing runner, resulting in the final out of the inning (NCAA Rule 6-3-b regarding interference states, "If the batter strikes out, the runner is also out").
At least 10 events contributed to what would become a non-game in Pennsylvania as the PSAC conference upheld MU's protest that the umpires had improperly applied NCAA rules.
Specifically, in reversing the plate umpire's original strike three call and overturning it to ball four-thus extending the inning and, ultimately, allowing SMU to score two additional runs [the tying and go-ahead runs]-the umpires appeared to have violated NCAA Appendix E-1-f, which states that certain judgment calls, including balls/strikes decisions, are not subject to reversal.
The video documents other events, including game management and interaction with the aggrieved coach and dugout, that led to a difficult sequence Saturday afternoon.
26 апр 2021
