College Baseball Game Ends With Mayhem As Confusing Balk Rule Results In Walk-Off Free Swing

Saturday’s college baseball game between Ohio Dominican and Tiffin University was absolutely bonkers. A balk call resulted in a walk-off double on a free swing that left the defense baffled.

The unique victory is a great reminder of a quirky rule to all ballplayers out there. Let’s break it down!

It must first be noted that the Panthers and Dragons were playing a doubleheader so both games were only seven innings — not nine. The bottom of the seventh was the final inning of the game.

Ohio Dominican, a 1,700-student school located in Columbus, competes on the Division II level as part of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Tiffin, a 1,470-student school located southeast of Toledo, does as well. They split the first two games of the weekend series so Saturday afternoon was the rubber match.

It was college baseball mayhem!

The game was tied at seven in the bottom of the seventh.

ODU was up to bat with a runner on second and one out. Junior designated hitter Gianni Passarelli stepped into the box with a chance to be the hero. And because he knew the rules — he was!

Tiffin’s pitcher made a motion that mimicked his normal delivery but checked back to the runner before firing the pitch to the plate. That, by definition, is a balk. The Panthers dugout went bonkers.

Their plea was heard by the umpire. A balk was called.

As a result, the Dragons defense essentially stopped in its tracks even though their pitcher threw down to the plate. By rule, if the ball is thrown, the batter is allowed to swing.

If he does not, the ball is dead. If it’s a strike, the ball is dead. However, if the batter swings and the ball is put back in play, it is live. It is essentially the only opportunity for a free swing.

Passarelli knocked it back up the middle, the runner came home to score. Ohio Dominican won 8-7!