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Tennessee Baseball Appears To Troll NCAA With Subtle Nod To Vols Softball Controversy

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Tennessee baseball player Manny Marin rounds the bases.

© Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images / © Brett Rojo-Imagn Images


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The Tennessee baseball team appeared to troll the NCAA during a Regional finals game against Wake Forest in Knoxville on Monday. Players seemed to subtly reference a recent controversy involving the school’s softball squad.

A viral home run celebration made immediate waves within the Tennessee fanbase. Social media exploded with reaction while watching the Vols book a ticket to the next round of the postseason tournament.

The moment came after a Manny Marin blast in the fourth inning of play. The third baseman quickly rounded the bases after the 374-foot bomb. He then (intentionally?) missed home plate before walking back to touch the bag.

It was subtle, but Vol Nation caught on. Most believe the reference was a direct shot at the NCAA.

Tennessee baseball trolls after softball controversy.

The Lady Vols competed in the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City this past weekend. During a game against UCLA, they were nearly robbed of victory.

Tennessee led 2-0 in the seventh inning and had the Bruins down to their last out. Megan Grant then appeared to tie things up with a two-run homer.

Video replay, however, showed that she’d missed home plate amid a celebration with her teammates. She was directed to go back and touch the bag by a UCLA player, which is not legal. Grant, by rule, should’ve been the third out instead of the tying run.

Despite having that evidence, umpires allowed the run to count due to a rulebook technicality. After a review, the play was deemed unreviewable. Makes sense!

Had umpires seen Grant miss the plate in real time, the game would’ve ended 2-1 in the seventh inning. They did not, so play continued.

Luckily for the Vols, the ruling didn’t come back to bite. Tennessee softball walked the Bruins off in the bottom of the ninth inning to keep its season alive for one game longer.