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Ejections could be memorable moment from MCWS finals
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers head coach Kevin Schnall reacts after being ejected during the first inning against the LSU Tigers at Charles Schwab Field. Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Controversial ejections could be one of the more memorable moments from MCWS finals

A questionable ejection may have been the defining moment of Game 2 of the Men's College World Series finals between the LSU Tigers and Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. 

In the bottom of the first inning of Sunday's home game at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, umpire Angel Campos ejected Chanticleers coach Kevin Schnall after LSU pitcher Anthony Eyanson threw a strike to infielder Walker Mitchell. Before the ejection, Schnall gestured three fingers at Campos and shouted at him. 

Schnall then ran onto the field to argue with Campos some more. Second base umpire Kellen Levy stumbled and fell on the ground during the scuffle. Chanticleers first base coach Matt Schilling was also ejected after he started arguing with the umpires.

The NCAA said Schnall had been arguing balls and strikes and had already been given a warning before he was ejected. 

"NCAA Playing Rule 3-6-f-Note 1 states that balls, strikes, half swings or decisions about hit-by-pitch situations are not to be argued," the NCAA said in a statement, via the Associated Press. "After a warning, any player or coach who continues to argue balls, strikes, half swings or a hit-by-pitch situation shall be ejected from the game." 

ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, however, thinks the NCAA was being too harsh.

Whether the ruling was fair or not, it likely affected the game's outcome. After the ejections, the Tigers outscored the Chanticleers 5-1 in the third and fourth innings. 

Coastal Carolina tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning when outfielder Wells Sykes homered to left field, driving in infielder Ty Dooley. That proved too late. 

LSU would win the game 5-3, winning their second national title in baseball in three years. But Schnall's surprising ejection may be the moment fans remember more than LSU winning the championship.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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