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Wright State coach Alex Sogard addresses controversial go-ahead HR for Vanderbilt
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Wright State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead vs. Vanderbilt on Friday with hopes of pulling off a stunning upset.
Since 1999, the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament was 25-0 in their first game of the regional round. The Commodores were in danger of ending that streak after being held in check by WSU starter Cam Allen.
The electric right-hander twirled 6 no-hit innings with 7 strikeouts and 3 walks, but head coach Alex Sogard made the move to pull him entering the 7th inning. That kind of move is always a bit controversial, and it quickly backfired with a solo home run by Vanderbilt’s Brodie Johnston, making it 3-1.
Another solo shot early in the 8th inning made it 3-2, leading up to the pivotal and controversial moment. With a runner on and 2 away, Riley Nelson drilled a pitch down the left field line in a majestic blast that was either going to be a loud foul ball or a go-ahead home run.
The first base umpire originally ruled the knock a foul ball, but a gathering of the umpires on the field changed the call to a home run. A livid Sogard came out to argue the on-field overturn and challenge the play, but there was not enough video evidence to overturn the call of a home run.
Ultimately, the call was a judgment one, and your opinion on the final call likely rests on your allegiances. Either way, it was a call packed with weird optics throughout, and Sogard was asked about it after the game.
The head coach said he thought it was a tough one for the umpires to overrule during their meeting to begin with, and Sogard revealed he did not agree with the explanation he was given in the aftermath.
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In the end, it’s a major blessing for the Commodores as they roll into the winner’s bracket for a matchup vs. Louisville on Saturday evening, but it puts Wright State against a wall. The Raiders will face ETSU at 3 pm ET in a do-or-die elimination game.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
