iStockphoto
Benches cleared during a Saturday night baseball matchup between Georgia and Mississippi State after a close play at the plate devolved into a near-brawl.
The scuffle broke after the final out of the top of the eighth inning was recorded.
A UGA baserunner attempted to score on a ball hit into the right-centerfield gap. Instead, Mississippi State executed the perfect relay to nail the runner at home, saving a run and keeping the contest tied at 2-2 as the team entered its next at-bat.
Catcher Johnny Long made an emphatic tag on that putout, then proceeded to give the baserunner a piece of his mind after the fact. Dugouts quickly cleared as the two sides were separated.
ICYMI: Last night a play at the plate between Georgia and Mississippi State resulted in players entering the field of play which triggered a 40-minute review and 11 overall ejections.
Those 11 players have not all been named but are expected to miss Sunday’s rubber game as well. pic.twitter.com/fr6SgoNb06
— SEC Baseball (@SECbaseball) April 7, 2024
What sparked Long’s reaction isn’t exactly known as it doesn’t appear the runner’s slide consisted of anything out of the ordinary. The catcher certainly took offense to something, though, which lit an immediate inferno creating a very tense situation.
Luckily, no punches were thrown, and the scene never seemed to be out of control.
Still, in an attempt to minimize the reaction, umpires began handing out ejections. Eleven of them, to be exact, as they conducted a full review of the incident.
That near-brawl led to 40-minute delay for Mississippi State and Georgia players as gameplay was halted from 9:30 PM local time to around 10:10 PM.
Wild situation here in Starkville for Miss St vs UGA baseball
Final out of the 8th inning was play at the plate at 10:29pm EST
Testy 3rd out, led dugouts being emptied
Several delays on the actual play then who left the dugoutPlay finally resumes at 11:09pm – 40 mins later https://t.co/7HZvQtpDCK
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) April 7, 2024
Georgia would get its revenge in the top half of the ninth inning, plating a run in their final at-bat to take a 3-2 lead. After a scoreless bottom half of the frame, UGA left with a crucial road win in conference play.
Still, the situation will continue to be felt into Sunday’s rubber match.
A number of players, on both the Georgia and Mississippi State sides, received suspensions for their roles in the “brawl.”
The SEC announces its suspensions for Saturday night’s baseball game between Georgia and Mississippi State. Henry Hunter, Fernando Gonzalez and Daniel Padysak per league rules will have to sit for one game. However, it’s my understanding that since both Hunter and Gonzalez are… pic.twitter.com/cyAIzEBNGv
— Anthony Dasher (@AnthonyDasher1) April 7, 2024
MSU catcher Johhny Long could reportedly be up for a multi-game suspension.