Base-brawl: Sac State & UC Riverside kicked off the NCAA baseball season with a bang—make that a fight.
NCAA D1 baseball season began on Feb. 15, but this weekend marked Sacramento State's home opener.
With one out and one on during the third inning of Friday's UC Riverside Highlanders-Sacramento State Hornets game, UC Riverside batter Clayton Prestridge hit a 1-0 fastball from Sacramento State pitcher Tanner Mendonca to shortstop Scotty Murcham, who threw to third baseman Will Soto in an attempt to involve UC Riverside baserunner R2 Eddie Young in a rundown between second and third base. Following a brief pickle, Young was tagged out by Sacramento State second baseman Andrew Ayers. Replays indicate Young appeared to then grab or pull Ayers' glove as Ayers appeared to attempt to check the batter-runner at first base. Ayers then pushed the retired Young away, after which Young returned and threw a punch at Ayers, resulting in a bench clearing incident.
2012 WAC Player of the Year Ayers, Young and UC Riverside catcher Drake Zarate were ejected for their participation in the fight. Pursuant to NCAA rule, each player has received a mandatory four-game suspension, meaning Ayers, Young and Zarate will not participate in the remainder of the teams' four-game weekend series.
At the time of the ejections, UC Riverside was leading, 2-0. UC Riverside ultimately won the contest, 2-1.
Wrap: UC Riverside Highlanders vs. Sacramento State Hornets, 2/22/13
Video: Sacramento State's home opener is marred by a bench-clearing brouhaha (KCRA)
A slight push in the back, after you intentionally held the player's glove, does not give you authority to punch someone.
ReplyDeleteR2 should be suspended for at least half the season. There's no place in baseball for that kind of behavior.