Watch: Umpire goes viral for dramatic moment during Tennessee's win over Clemson
The Tennessee Vols won one of the wildest college baseball games of the season on Saturday night, knocking off the Clemson Tigers 6-5 in a 14-inning thriller. Tennessee was down 4-2 in the ninth inning before Zane Denton hit a 3-run home run with two outs to give the Vols the lead. Clemson tied the […]
The Tennessee Vols won one of the wildest college baseball games of the season on Saturday night, knocking off the Clemson Tigers 6-5 in a 14-inning thriller.
Tennessee was down 4-2 in the ninth inning before Zane Denton hit a 3-run home run with two outs to give the Vols the lead.
Clemson tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game to extra innings.
At one point in the 10th inning, it looked like Clemson had won the game on a fielder's choice. But a replay review overturned the call and Tennessee escaped the 10th inning thanks to an inning-ending double play.
Not only was the double play a pivotal moment in the game, but it also provided one of the most dramatic scenes of the game.
It was fairly obvious after seeing the replay that shortstop Maui Ahuna's throw made it to first baseman Ethan Payne in time to get Clemson's Benjamin Blackwell at first base.
But you never know when it comes to replay reviews — and replay showed that Payne's foot was dangerously close to coming off first base before Ahuna's throw hit his glove — but the call was ultimately overturned.
And there was no doubt that the call was overturned because the umpire walked back onto the field and gave an emphatic out signal that sent Tennessee's team into celebration mode for a brief moment.
Check out the call from the umpire:
Some fans might feel like that was a little self-serving from the umpire — and maybe it was — but it felt appropriate given the intensity that was palpable in extra innings.
Tennessee's win on Saturday night means the Vols will play the winner of an elimination game between Clemson and Charlotte at 6:00 PM ET on Sunday.
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
