Umpire behind home plate was shaky at times especially in bottom 9 against Chestnut who struck out looking to start B9.

Grahovac gets a pitch called he don't like on strike 1 or 2. Then he gets K'd looking on a pitch low and in… umpire has a massive delay before wringing him up… seriously it was probably a second before he called strike 3. Grahovac was jawing so Earley came out and argued more. Up tossed Earley and Earley then got in the umps face.

GG did not get ejected. Zane (edit) confirmed in Premium.

Home plate blue was Steve Mattingly. Cost us a regional at Rice years ago with a delayed, very controversial obstruction call on our runner at second, That overly late overly dramatic punch out of Gavin last night is par for the course. Always makes the game about him.

histag10 said:

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FWIW, Earley didnt have the most dramatic ejection of the night in NCAA. That honor goes to Saarloos-who took an insanely long time to walk (briefcase in hand) from the dugout to the clubhouse in left field after getting tossed.

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I had to go find that.

Kirk Saarloos has been tossed after a video replay being overturned on a tag at 3rd.

Grabbed his leather briefcase and took over a minute walk out to left field gate. Iconic 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/GYZeindUPW

— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) May 3, 2026

I agree that the call was horrible, but doesn't every time that a player or manager argues balls and strikes end up with an ejection?

I remember back in the 1980's, after a horrible call, the PA announcer played Linda Rondstat's "I've Been Cheated". The home plate ump threw the PA announcer out of the game.

Didn't see the ejection but don't remember seeing a HP umpire having it in for a team since little league. Too many questionable strike calls by him on check swings when he never appeared to give the 1st base the chance to call strike or ball.
Certainly not the reason for the first loss. That honor belongs to our pitching
But I hope we never draw that ******* again.

From my review yesterday

Quote:

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Steve is bad all around.

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dermdoc said:

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Home plate blue was Steve Mattingly. Cost us a regional at Rice years ago with a delayed, very controversial obstruction call on our runner at second, That overly late overly dramatic punch out of Gavin last night is par for the course. Always makes the game about him.

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Mattingly truly sucks and makes the world and SEC baseball a worse place.

Just horrible at his job. Selfish, thin skinned, histrionic, and just awful at the fundamental aspects of his work.

He and Head are just an absolute disgrace and should retire in shame and do an apology tour to all of the SEC teams, starting and ending with A&M. We deserve several apologies,

SEC baseball must go to electronic ball/strike challenge. It's 2026.