Mercer were so incensed by an opposing player’s home run celebration that they walked off the field during their Southern Conference tournament defeat on Saturday.
After he smoked a homer to give Samford a 5-1 lead (which they would not relinquish), Michael Gupton leapt and skipped while rounding the bases, breaking with the baseball custom in which players usually keep their celebrations in check immediately after hitting a home run. He also appeared to yell at Mercer shortstop Bradley Frye and the opposing dugout. The Mercer coaches voiced their displeasure with the umpires while Frye had to be held back as he approached Gupton.
Mercer started to leave the field, while Frye, Gupton and two coaches were ejected. Frye’s mother then jumped on the dugout roof and was told to leave the stadium. The game was paused for nearly 30 minutes during the disturbance and Southern Conference commissioner Michael Cross was forced to enter the field to attempt to calm matters down.
Samford’s victory means they will play East Tennessee State for the Southern Conference championship on Sunday.
