A look back at the unlucky 13th for #Clemson baseball (Photos)

The 13th inning Sunday night at Clemson’s Doug Kingsmore Stadium was one for the college baseball ages. The Tigers and Florida traded blows, and barbs, all day. Neither was able to deliver the knockout punch through 12 innings.

Then came the memorable 13th inning. Clemson took the lead on a solo home run by Alden Mathes. In his glee, Mathes was demonstrative in his bat toss, or bat spike. The umpiring crew took exception. The Clemson coaching staff took exception to their exception.

Here’s what the home plate umpire Billy Van Raaphorst had to say about all of that in a statement released overnight:

“In the top of the 13th inning the Clemson batter hit home run and spiked his bat into the ground.

The crew got together due to the nature of the bat being spiked and to discuss a possible unsportsmanlike conduct violation as unsportsmanlike conduct warnings were issued in the 3rd inning.

Coach Bakich came running out of the dugout when the crew got together. We told him to go back to the dugout while we huddled. We had to tell him three times to return to the dugout. Meanwhile Coach Leggett was in the dugout pointing and screaming at us about the crew huddling. Leggett was warned to stop, he continued waving his hands while yelling at the crew.  At this point Leggett was ejected for failing to obey the warning. He then proceeded onto the field in foul territory and was warned to leave or be suspended. Leggett continued to yell at the crew while walking toward the foul line while failing to obey the “Prolonged warning.”  Leggett was then issued a two-game suspension. Once Leggett was ejected Coach Bakich who had not returned to the dugout stayed outside the dugout in foul territory and started raising his arms over his head while facing the crowd to clearly incite the crowd. Due to the previous unsportsmanlike conduct warning issued earlier we deemed this inappropriate, and he would be ejected for his actions. 

We ultimately decided that the batter’s actions were not an ejectable offense. The crew chief met Coach Bakich at the foul line to give him an explanation. He was told Leggett had been ejected… and suspended for coming out of the dugout, onto the field and failing to obey the prolonged warning. He was then told Backich himself was going to be ejected for not returning to the dugout and for inciting the crowd. After the ejection Bakich followed the Crew Chief several times around the infield and after being warned for prolonged activity was suspended for failing to obey the warning. 

The game continued and ended without further incident.”

Of course, Clemson couldn’t hold the lead in the bottom of the 13th. A two run double by the #9 batter in the lineup drove home the wining runs and sent the Gators to the College World Series.

A memorable season for Clemson had a forgettable ending for many reasons.

Photos by Travis Bell of SidelineCarolina