Watch: College player ejected for bat-flip following game-tying grand slam
Grand Canyon University outfielder Tyler Wilson accomplished a feat many grow up imitating in the backyard as youngsters -- socking a game-tying grand slam for your team in the clutch. Only, the dream turned reality quickly became a nightmare after an overzealous umpire stepped in to overshadow the moment.
Seconds after Wilson's fifth-inning bases-clearing round-tripper against Nebraska, he flipped his bat, as players often do after hitting a big home run. However, home plate umpire (and presumed hater of fun) Jason Rogers decided that the celebratory bat flip was a bit too much, and he booted the senior from the game as he crossed home plate.
To be fair, Wilson had almost made it to first base by the time he unleashed his epic bat flip. However, whether or not it was worthy of an ejection depends on your taste for celebrations. Baseball purists might applaud the umpire for taking action, while others see the fun police intervening where they shouldn't be.
The line between excitement and showing up an opponent is thinner than ever nowadays. Still, if Sunday's ejection is any indication, umpires will be cracking down on anything considered too excessive, at least at the collegiate level.
Either way, Nebraska got the last laugh, ultimately coming away with a 10-8 victory over GCU.
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