Florida slugger Brendan Lawson committed the most vicious bat spike of the 2025 college baseball season thus far and was subsequently ejected. Although his behavior was over the line, it was a well-deserved celebration for a team that desperately needed a spark of energy and it is great for the sport.
However, the disrespect very quickly became awkward when the Gators lost the game and the series in walk-off fashion just one inning later. Oops!
Lawson, a true freshman, was the top-ranked Canadian prospect in the college baseball recruiting Class of 2025. He arrived to Gainesville with a lot of hype and immediately lived up to expectations. The 6-foot-3 second baseman is hitting .323 on the season thus far with 33 RBIs and seven home runs.
His most recent home run was electric. Lawson went deep with the bases juiced for a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the eighth inning against Ole Miss in Oxford. Florida took a 9-5 lead in the second game of a three-game series.
OH MY, B-LAW!!! 💣#GoGators // SECN+ pic.twitter.com/t0loAWayku
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) March 28, 2025
As soon as the ball left the bat, it was gone. Everybody knew it.
Lawson proceeded to march down the first base line, stare down the opposing dugout, and spike his bat right at the Rebels. He also hit them with a little flex.
Brendan Lawson took Ole Miss walking Colby Shelton to face him with the bases loaded PERSONAL!! A bat spike towards Ole Miss’ dugout then staring down the Rebels and flexing after mashing a game-leading Grand Slam in the 8th into the Swayze Crazies! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Yv8xsXQKZg
— Harrison Cordell Fant (@Fantavious9) March 28, 2025
Everything about the celebration was well-deserved. I should also note that Ole Miss intentionally walked the batter in front of Brendan Lawson to load the bases. The Rebels wanted all of the smoke. They got it.
Even though Lawson’s shenanigans are part of what make college baseball — and baseball in general — so fun, it was deemed worthy of an ejection. The SEC umpiring crew talked it over and decided to throw him out of the game. Rightfully so. I would typically prefer to let the boys play loud but I get it.
If Lawson’s early dismissal was not awkward enough, Ole Miss actually went on to win the game. Austin Fawley walked it off in the bottom of the ninth inning to clinch the series.
Fawley finishes it with his fifth RBI of the day!@fawley_austin | #HottyToddy https://t.co/ELOkp7ZgxK pic.twitter.com/SH7DXXAybz
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 28, 2025
Brendan Lawson spiked his bat at the Rebels just to lose the game. Yikes. You hate to see it.