Sam Houston thought they had tied the game in the eighth inning when Walker Yanik launched a home run. He rounded the bases and celebrated with his teammates, but things unraveled fast. The umpires went to replay and ruled that Yanik never touched home plate. The call was overturned, and the run was taken off the board.
The Sam Houston coach was furious, not just about the replay result but about the umpire’s reaction during the play. According to the coach, the umpire shook his head after Yanik missed the plate, which may have tipped off the other team to appeal. The coach argued that umpires shouldn’t react or communicate non-verbally during those moments because it can influence the game’s outcome. He said the umpire’s gesture gave it away, costing his team a crucial run in a tight game.