Plenty of strange and funny moments popped up during the regional softball tournament this past weekend. George Mason’s bat licker stole some attention. In a tight game against Duke, a Mason hitter licked her bat not once but twice before striking out. Whatever the reason, it didn’t help this time. Auburn had a more direct response to adversity. After getting drilled in the arm, one batter returned next time up with the bases loaded and crushed a grand slam. She let the dugout know she took that hit personally.
In another game, Duke and Charlotte battled it out with a back-and-forth final inning. A Charlotte hitter fouled off several pitches before slapping a double to the wall, setting up a tying and then go-ahead rally. But controversy hit when Duke nailed a potential tag at home. Replays showed a clear out, but officials ruled the runner safe, citing rules about plate blocking. That one left fans confused.
There were also some highlight reel catches. In the Long Island vs. Alabama game, the left fielder bobbled a fly ball off her glove, then it bounced off her head and shoulder before she somehow grabbed it barehanded. It counted. In the Louisville vs. Indiana matchup, a shortstop turned a dropped pop-up into a barehand catch after knocking it loose from her teammate’s glove. The second baseman wasn’t thrilled, but the play stood. Plenty of odd moments, not always clean, but definitely memorable.