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Iowa baseball interference call: What umpire coordinator said of controversial play

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Iowa baseball interference call: What umpire coordinator said of controversial play

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Iowa baseball was on the short end of a controversial call in Thursday’s Big Ten Tournament loss to Illinois.

The Hawkeyes fell 4-2 in 10 innings on Thursday’s likely season-ending elimination game, despite having the bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the 10th. Controversy struck when Michael Seegers grounded out to the Fighting Illini first baseman, who tried a double play, but runner Kyle Huckstorf was called for interference on his slide at second, despite beating the late throw to the base.

REQUIRED READING: Iowa baseball’s season ends amid controversy against Illinois at Big Ten Tournament

It initially seemed the Hawkeyes would be down 4-3 with runners on first and third with one out, but the interference call resulted in another out while bringing the runner back to third base. With two outs in the bottom of the 10th, Ben Wilmes struck out to end the game.

Iowa coach Rick Heller was ejected for protesting the call.

After the game, umpires explained their reasoning for the call, which was reviewed during the game and confirmed.

Here’s the umpires’ explanation for how the call was made in Iowa’s loss to Illinois on Thursday:

Iowa baseball interference call explanation

Here’s the explanation of the Iowa baseball interference call, according to a pool report response from umpire coordinator Mark Uhl:

“There are three elements to what’s called the force play slide rule and it’s rule 8-4, it’s on pages 77 and 78 of the NCAA Rule Book,” Uhl told On3’s Kyle Huesmann, the on-site pool reporter. “The two requirements which were applicable to this play, as the rule says it’s a force play, the runner must slide in a direct line between the two bases. The rule then goes on to define directly into a base means the runner’s entire body, feet, legs, trunk and arms must stay in a straight line between the bases. His legs, trunk and arms were not in a straight line between the bases, so the original call was interference.

“This is a reviewable play under NCAA rules. The umpiring crew went to video review. Once in a review room they confirmed the call because the video showed one, the runner did not slide in a direct line between the two bases and the runner’s entire body was not in a straight line between the two bases.”

Iowa baseball’s Rick Heller on interference call

Note: Rick Heller was ejected for protesting the play.

Here’s what Iowa baseball coach Rick Heller said about the interference call in Thursday’s game:

“How it all went down, I don’t even really understand,” Heller told reporters after the game. “I still don’t even know what they saw on the double play. I’ve watched it 20 times. I’m still confused. To have it end like that — yeah, we still had a chance — but I don’t really know what to say.”

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