Coastal Carolina Coach Defends Against CWS Ejection: Claims He Was Unfairly Accused of Bumping Umpire

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Coastal Carolina coach Kevin Schnall and first base coach Matt Schilling were ejected from the College World Series finals early in the game against LSU. Schnall argues his dismissal was unfair, claiming he was wrongly accused of bumping an umpire.

The incident unfolded with two outs as Walker Mitchell was at bat. Sebastian Alexander had just stolen second base when Schnall stepped up in the dugout, gestured toward plate umpire Angel Campos, and began shouting. According to the NCAA, Schnall was warned for arguing balls and strikes. When he didn’t leave the field, he was ejected.

Schnall shared his thoughts post-game. “If you watch the video, the base umpire came in aggressively, tripped over Campos’ foot, and then said I bumped him,” he explained. “There was no bump. I shouldn’t be accountable for someone else’s mistake.” He expressed frustration, saying, “If this warrants an ejection, then there would be many more ejections.”

The NCAA maintains that the coaches engaged in “prolonged arguing,” justifying the ejections. Schnall will now miss the first two games of the 2026 season, while Schilling faces a similar fate, missing the first three games.

Public Reaction and Impact

Fans and commentators took to social media, expressing mixed opinions. Some supported Schnall, asserting that the ejection changed the game’s momentum. A recent poll indicated that nearly 70% of baseball fans believe coaches should have a clearer pathway to appeal such decisions.

Chance Miller, the athletic director for Coastal Carolina, echoed similar sentiments. In a statement on social media, he stated that the decisions impacted the team’s performance in a critical game. He called for the NCAA to review how umpires are trained and evaluated in high-pressure situations.

This incident serves as a reminder of how crucial officiating is in sports. In high-stakes games, emotions run high, and decisions can lead to heated confrontations. It’s vital for umpires to manage these moments with professionalism and composure.

As the College World Series continues to captivate audiences, the question remains: How can we ensure fair play while maintaining the integrity of the game? Umpire training and review processes may need to adapt to strike a balance between authority and accountability.

For more on collegiate sports and officiating standards, you can check out AP News College Sports.

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