News Summary
Coastal Carolina’s baseball team concluded a remarkable season by reaching the Men’s College World Series finals but fell to LSU in Game 2, losing 5-3. The team faced controversy when head coach Kevin Schnall and first base coach Matt Schilling were ejected during the game after a dispute over a strike call. Despite the loss, the season is celebrated for its accomplishments and resilience, with fans eagerly supporting the team. The athletic department emphasized the need for improved umpire training to avoid similar issues in the future.
Omaha, Nebraska – Coastal Carolina’s baseball team concluded a historic season by reaching the Men’s College World Series finals but ultimately fell to LSU in Game 2 of the championship series. The Chanticleers lost the game 5-3 on Monday, June 26, after previously losing Game 1, which resulted in a 1-0 shutout by LSU. With this loss, Coastal Carolina was eliminated from the tournament, needing a win in Game 2 to keep their championship hopes alive.
A significant controversy arose in the first inning of the game when Coastal Carolina head coach Kevin Schnall was ejected from the game along with first base coach Matt Schilling. The incident began shortly after Coastal’s Sebastian Alexander successfully stole second base during a called strike pitch. Following the play, Schnall approached home plate umpire Angel Campos to argue the strike call, earning a warning before being ejected. Despite the warning, Schnall left the dugout to continue his argument, which led to the ejection for “prolonged arguing,” a violation of NCAA rules.
Under NCAA regulations, once a coach or player is warned about arguing balls and strikes, any continued dispute can result in immediate ejection. Schnall’s ejection and Schilling’s involvement in the incident mean that both coaches will face suspensions—Schnall for two games and Schilling will miss the first three games of next season.
In the aftermath of the ejections, Chad Oxendine, the associate head coach, stepped in as the acting head coach for Coastal Carolina. Following the game, Schnall expressed strong discontent, asserting that the ejection was unjust and claiming that he was mischaracterized as having made physical contact with an umpire, which he stated was not the case.
The game’s atmosphere was intensified by the presence of approximately 25,000 spectators at Charles Schwab Field, eager to witness the championship action. LSU entered the game looking to clinch the national title, having won the initial game with a close score of 1-0 due to a notable performance from their starting pitcher Kade Anderson, who delivered a complete-game shutout.
Despite the loss, Coastal Carolina’s season has been hailed as a remarkable achievement, as they overcame significant challenges to make it to the finals. The players received strong support from a dedicated fan base that cheered them on through their journey, resulting in instilled pride among supporters, who looked forward to what the future holds for the program.
In response to the incidents surrounding the ejection, Coastal Carolina’s athletic department emphasized the need for better training and assessment of umpires during championship situations, citing that improvements are necessary to avoid similar occurrences in the future. The nature of the incident during a crucial moment of the championship has sparked discussions regarding officiating standards in college baseball.
While Coastal Carolina’s Cinderella run in the tournament has come to an end, the 2023 season will be remembered for its milestones and the growth of the program. The Chanticleers will use the experience gained from this season to prepare for the next challenge, as they aim to build on their success and return stronger, continuing to support their talented roster of players.
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Additional Resources
- USA Today: Kevin Schnall and Matt Schilling Ejected
- ESPN: Coastal Carolina Coach and Assistant Ejected
- LSU Reveille: Why Kevin Schnall was Ejected
- Myrtle Beach Online: Coastal Carolina’s College World Series Journey
- NOLA: LSU vs Coastal Carolina Game Two Details
- Wikipedia: College Baseball World Series
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Baseball
- Google Search: College World Series 2023
- Google Scholar: Coastal Carolina Baseball
- Google News: Coastal Carolina Baseball
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