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Nov 04, 2024

Jack Crighton ejection, explained: Why Clemson player left Florida game

Clemson baseball lost a crucial player in Jack Crighton against Florida in what could be the last game of the season for the Tigers in the Clemson Super Regional on Sunday. Crighton's ejection drew

Clemson baseball lost a crucial player in Jack Crighton against Florida in what could be the last game of the season for the Tigers in the Clemson Super Regional on Sunday.

Crighton's ejection drew ire on social media, as he was not a part of a dust-up between Jac Caglianone and Nolan Nawracki in which the two collided along the first base path. The two players briefly got into it, causing both benches to clear, though it didn't escalate further from there.

However, Crighton — who already was on the field and appeared to be running back from second base to the Clemson dugout, in front of which the altercation took place — was the only player ejected from the game. The NCAA provided an update on why the ejection occurred to ESPN, which was broadcasting the game. It was initially thought that Crighton was ejected for making contact with the umpire.

However, play-by-play announcer Dave Neal said that wasn't the ultimate reason for his ejection from the game. Here's the official reason he relayed on the ESPN telecast, per NCAA baseball rules editor Ryan Bruns:

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"He was on second base at the time of the play, which resulted in a possible altercation near first base. He was ejected from the game for leaving his position on the field because he went to the site of the potential altercation."

The ESPN broadcast interviewed Clemson coach Erik Bakich during the bottom of the fifth inning. Bakich was immediately asked about the ejection and what happened.

"You can almost see it in slow motion happening: a swinging bunt and two guys running for the ball collided. Competitive kids and emotions got hot," Bakich said of the play.

"But the explanation for throwing out Crighton that I got was he was on base and left his position on base, even though it was the third out of the innings coming and he was coming back to the dugout.

"Don’t know really what else to tell you," Bakich added with a laugh after he had trailed off speaking for a moment.

Here's the full altercation, beginning with Caglianone and Nawrocki's collision to Crighton's ejection:

After a lengthy review, the umpires explained to Bakich that Crighton would be the only player tossed from the entire dust-up. When the umpires informed him, Bakich told them he would not be ejecting his player from the game. Crighton then came out and was told by the umpires he was ejected. Bakich held his player back and kept him from arguing after the decision.

"They told me he was ejected and I said I was not going to be the one who ejected him," Bakich said.