Tensions boiled over in a strange and slow-moving standoff between UAB and East Carolina. With East Carolina up 4-0, frustration mounted for the UAB pitcher who wasn’t getting calls he wanted. After a borderline pitch missed the zone, he glared toward the umpire. Things got worse when the catcher overthrew a routine throwback into a base with no one covering, allowing a runner to steal with ease. The UAB bench erupted. The pitcher, catcher, and coach all looked frustrated with the strike zone.
The UAB coach then walked to the mound but didn’t signal for a pitching change. Instead, he stalled, waiting to see if the umpire would come out to break it up. The two locked eyes for several minutes in an awkward power struggle. The batter waited. Relief pitchers waited. Fans looked confused. Over two minutes passed. Finally, the umpire gave in and came out, at which point the coach acted like he was just then deciding to make the change. It was clear the coach simply refused to give in first. The umpire, forced to break the stare, appeared visibly annoyed as the coach signaled for a righty reliever. It wasn’t about strategy at that point. It was a slow-burning contest of stubbornness, and the UAB coach won.