Today's first Oregon-Texas game.

[UmpireErnie]

Originally Posted by KJUmp

The two game suspension for a player being ejected for physical contact with an opponent is automatic by rule.....for the first offense in a season.
Second offense, four games; third offense suspended for remainder of season, including postseason competition.

So do the big automatic penalties lead to hesitation by umpires to toss players for MC? I thought there should have been more ejections for MC in this game.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by UmpireErnie

So do the big automatic penalties lead to hesitation by umpires to toss players for MC? I thought there should have been more ejections for MC in this game.

Perhaps, and I have no argument with any of the posters who support that opinion.
That said, going back over the four plays that had incidents of contact, (not counting the INF call on the OU runner going back to 2nd), they were covered by two separate NCAA rules which cover two different forms of physical contact that occurs between opponents.

Rule 12 BASERUNNING; under Regulations Governing Base Running,12.14 Collisions, covers...."unnecessary and violent collisions with the catcher at home plate and with infielders at all bases."

Rule 13 MISCONDUCT;13.2 Physical Contact with an Umpire or Opponent, covers....."physical intimidation or harm, including pushing, shoving, spitting, throwing at or attempting to make aggressive physical contact....".

12.14 Notes state: "If the act is determined to be flagrant, the offender will be ejected."

13.2 EFFECT states: "The perpetrator shall be ejected and then suspended for the next two scheduled and played contests....."

Recapping the plays:
1) OU runner bangs into UT catcher after PU had signaled OBS on UT catcher.
Covered by 12.14, by rule, EJ only if action is determined flagrant.

2) UT runner elbows/shoves OU catcher after they become entangled after UT runner is called out at the plate.
I would think covered by 13.2, and if so, by rule, the perpetrator is ejected. I'm assuming that the PU saw the play as a violation of 12.14.

After this play warnings were issued to both teams.

3) OU runner elbows UT catcher after she is called out at the plate.
Covered by 13.2....OU runner ejected.

4) UT BR crossed her arms and banged into OU F3 who is standing a few feet up the line from 1st waiting to tag out the UT BR.
Covered by 12.14, and U1 determined the action by the UT BR to not be flagrant. (Play did result in an OU AC getting ejected.)

Play #2 seems to be the play that many believe should have had an EJ, and feel that if in fact that had occurred, maybe plays #3 & #4 never happen. I don't disagree with that, and the PU may have erred here. But #3 & #4 did happen, and along with #1 the decisions of the crew on these plays are supported by rule.

Let's be honest, that was a season's worth of collision/contact plays in like 4 innings in that game. IMO, I thought the crew handled things well and do not feel that they failed to control the game.

I wonder what the comments and opinions would be if say they had tossed four players?