Confused baserunner gets called for interference during a close game, a breakdown
What Happened
In a close game between South Carolina and Clemson in the bottom of the eighth inning, South Carolina is trailing by four runs but has two runners on base and is looking to mount a comeback. South Carolina's left-handed batter lines a hit to right field, scoring a run and advancing the runner to third base with only one out. On the first pitch to the next batter, the Clemson pitcher induces a double play ball. The South Carolina baserunner at first base is caught in a rundown and tries to advance to second base, but the throw from the Clemson fielder is errant, allowing a run to score. However, the umpires rule the South Carolina baserunner out for interference. South Carolina's head coach Greg Kingren rushes out to argue the call, clearly perplexed by the decision. The broadcast team also expresses confusion, noting they have never seen a play like this before. Upon reviewing the replay, it becomes clear that the South Carolina baserunner slid into second base, then remained in the area instead of getting out of the way as the play developed. When the Clemson fielder attempted to make a play, he collided with the baserunner, who was still standing near the bag. The umpires determined this obstruction of the fielder's attempt to complete the play warranted the interference call, despite the run scoring on the errant throw. Kingren argues that his player was simply trying to get up and move out of the way, but the umpires stand by their decision. The broadcast team notes that most baserunners in this situation recognize the play has gone awry and quickly remove themselves from the area, but this South Carolina player remained in the vicinity. After the umpires review the play, they confirm the run counts but the baserunner is still ruled out due to the interference call. Kingren and his player continue to express bewilderment over the unusual ruling, as the game heads to the final innings with Clemson clinging to a three-run lead.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentSouth Carolina's down four it's the
bottom of the eighth inning they've got
two Runners on they're looking to make a
comeback this breakdown is brought to
you by the warehouse games we've got a
lefty up a side winding righty for
Clemson and he's going to line it to
right field which is going to score run
moves the runner up so now it's a
three-run deficit first and third only
one out they're making moves they're
salvaging the series first pitch oh no
double play ball out at second throws it
away at first he's going to try and
advance to Second a runs going to score
on the overthrow what's uh obstruction
you're
out
what what's he doing what happened two
outs and Coach runs out he's like what's
go what what's going on
huh why are there three outs what he
wasn't out what's the call Greg what
happened is that when he got out and
then he was just doing something I don't
know he was trying to get up and move
but then he got in the way so I had to
get him okay let's watch it let's see
what he's talking about it's a it's a
grainy angle so he slides and then just
hangs out there for a bit doesn't
realize the play is coming back oh no
tries to duck and ends up getting in the
way so he tries to duck right here but
ends up the second baseman bumps into
him right there you can see contact
which does stop the second baseman from
getting further back which he wanted to
be to catch that ball he doesn't realize
the Short Stops there he's got cover
behind him he's just trying to make the
play and he does bump in to the runner
who's already out I think it's a good
call I think the play was obstructed
with and good job what's that Runner
doing there bizarre right I've never
seen that before the announcers were
like I've never seen that before coach
hears this and he's just like what I've
never seen that what did he do what do
guys usually do and that's the same
question I had so I pulled up three
years of footage in Major League
Baseball games to see what do runners
usually do so he's out at second and
then there's an overthrow okay he gets
out of the way he's he runs towards
third here's another one I found same
play slides in out at second watches the
play realizes it's an overthrow gets out
of the way so this is we've never
noticed this really as viewers because
you don't see it on the TV but yeah it
is something we don't see because
Runners don't just hang out in the area
they see that the throw is botched and
get out of the way this guy directs him
almost got in the way a little bit but
plays coach says get down get down get
down and then this one is that vlat at
first yeah out at second and then
realizes the plays coming and he's like
oh I'm I'm stuck I'll just lay lay down
in the grass and then what we had our
guy on South Carolina do is he slid and
then just stood there didn't really
follow the play and then at the last
second tried to get out of the way but
that didn't work meanwhile the runner
scored but they ruled that he didn't
score he says no I scored before the
ball no we didn't no we didn't have that
[ __ ] man [ __ ] damn damn coaches standing
there trying to figure it all out turns
to his player he's like what the hell
were you doing he's like he kicked me
with his foot so then as I was trying to
get up he walked back into me from
behind yeah coach I mean come on the
kid's like what he's like and I fumbled
getting back up okay don't be mad at me
coach are you mad at me Co coach hey you
listening oh boy oh my goodness oh oh no
coach are you mad at me he kicked me in
the head let's watch did he get kicked
in the head kind of that right foot I
think it's so grainy cuz I'm so zoomed
in on a really wide shot might get hit
in the head there with the second
baseman's right foot and then comes down
and looks like he definitely gets hit
with that left foot so he got he got
razed up a little bit I still don't
understand why he's just standing there
and not following the plays like I did
not slide dirty I slid with my spikes
down I did as soon as I hit the bag I
had my hands down and everything yeah he
was like in the fetal position trying to
get out of everybody's way and they're
like yeah but he got in the way so he's
come on they do say can you go challenge
home plate though because we think he
touched so the umpires run off and
they're going to go see the timing play
of it all they can't challenge us
meanwhile over in Clemson he's
explaining yeah so he went this way and
then they went back to him and he was
still there This Guy's in the crowd
being like I I don't I don't know so
like so yeah he's trying to explain it
this no he was going that way and then
he was coming back and then she's
explaining it to him and then this kid
is explaining it to her yes so then he
got out but he just kind of stood there
and then the ball went back to him but
now he's out but then he she bored bored
the Run did score before the out would
have been made a according to that
Replay that I did and the umpires after
review that run does score at the plate
but we have interference at second base
okay wait wait wait what so what did he
say what did we get we get the call you
got the Run yeah you got the run but
he's still out not listening not
listening wait okay so the so the call
stands at second the um says yes it
stands yeah [ __ ] and that breakdown of
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