Mercer and Samford had an epic - and high-emotion, ejection-filled - SoCon elimination game
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
The Mercer-Samford elimination game in the Southern Conference that went late into the Saturday night won’t be forgotten for a good while.
Samford was up 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth with a runner on first when a dropped foul ball gave junior outfielder Michael Gupton a second chance.
And what followed that second chance …
Two pitches later, Gupton sent a 2-1 pitch from reliever freshman Braydon Kersey over the fence in dead center, more than 390 feet from the plate.
Gupton took about 24 seconds to reach home plate after – shortstop Brandon Frye made a move toward him as he had words with Frye while dancing to third - an extraordinarily demonstrative – celebratory and antagonistic, with skipping and a spin or two and gestures to Mercer players and the dugout – lap around the bases.
Head coach Craig Gibson was already arguing with the home plate umpire before Gupton crossed the plate, and soon pulled his team off the field, Bears having to be restrained.
The umps conferred, and then checked the replay for reactions from the dugouts, and conference commissioner Michael Cross headed to the field, as Mercer players stood in front of their dugout.
At least one fan appeared to be ejected from the stadium early on during the interruption.
After several minutes, umpires met with both head coaches, as well as Cross and other conference officials.
Gibson appeared to disagree with at least one decision and was somewhat demonstrative in talking to the umps.
Gupton was tossed, and escorted from the dugout. Then after more consultation, more ejections: Frye and Mercer pitching coach Tanner Gordon, along with Samford assistant Gil Walker.
Then an adult female hopped onto the Mercer dugout when it was clear that Frye was ejected, and she was escorted from atop the Mercer dugout.
Just as it appeared things were nearing resumption and Mercer players started taking the field, two or three more fans hopped onto the top of the Mercer dugout.
A full 23 minutes passed from the time Gupton made contact until the next pitch, a groundout. Another one followed, one pitch later.
But the non-baseball action wasn’t quite over.
Samford’s Jefferey Ince walked and Jackson Harris doubled to right. Ince slowed, thinking it was a homer, and got in a rundown between home and third.
He dove into third, and was given a hard tag and clear post-tag shove from third baseman Brant Baughcum. Ince was shaken up on the play, earning a trip from the Samford training staff.
And the play earned to another set of conferences and consultations. Baughcum and Samford assistant Miles Gentry with then ejected, this delay taking another 10 minutes.
From the bottom of the sixth to the top of the seventh took a full 40 minutes.
The rest of the game took 33 minutes. Samford finished off the 5-1 win.
The teams played in the final series of the regular season in Macon, just before the tournament started. Mercer won the first two 2-1 and 6-5, Samford taking the finale 14-3.
The Bulldogs play ETSU, undefeated in the tournament, for the championship.
Mercer’s season ends at 35-25.