SEC Network
The Vanderbilt Commodores are clinging to dear life in a hopeful bid for a spot in the 2026 NCAA baseball tournament, and they certainly didn’t receive any help from umpires or Mother Nature on Friday night.
The Commodores, who currently sit ranked No. 68 in the RPI standings, trailed Missouri 7-6 in the top of the ninth with two outs and two runners on base following a nearly three-hour weather delay.
That’s when Braden Holcomb stepped to the plate and seemingly hit a three-run home run to give his team a 9-6 lead. However, umpires were less convinced.
THIS IS WILD.
Vanderbilt hit, according to them a go ahead HR, according to Mizzou a ground-rule double. According to the trackman data, it was a HR, but umpires after review rule it a ground rule double. Game suspended, to be resumed tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VR0ViaBKDi
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) May 9, 2026
Thick Fog Leads Umps To Rob Vanderbilt Of Pivotal Home Run
While Holcomb felt he hit a home run, and the Trackman data supports the fact that he hit a home run, umpires determined that they never actually saw the ball fly over the fence due to a thick fog that had fallen over the field.
Instead, they ruled that the play was a ground rule double, sending Holcolmb to second base and tying the game at 7-7.
“No doubt,” one fan told Vandy on SI of the would-be home run clearing the fence. “I have the ball and took a pic of it at the park. I thought it was gone too. The bullpen said it cleared the fence & Trackman had it going 380 and the fence in that part of the park is 366 feet. I found it at the foot of the indoor football facility out past the right field fence.”
Holcomb agreed.
no. 100% positive that ball went over the fence. https://t.co/ktnmd7hE9b
— Braden Holcomb (@bradenholcomb11) May 9, 2026
“100% peositive that ball went over the fence,” he posted on X.
Following the play, the umpires called a halt to the game due to the weather, and it’s set to continue on Saturday. However, whether it restarts with the score tied 7-7 or Vanderbilt leading 9-7 remains to be seen.