Oregon Coach Defends Controversial Ejection of Anson Aroz
Oregon head coach Mark Wasikowski addressed the controversy surrounding the ejection of Anson Aroz during Friday night’s game against Utah Valley. Aroz was removed from the game for what was deemed “malicious contact” while attempting to score at home plate. His ejection means he will miss Saturday’s matchup against Cal Poly.
The incident unfolded in the bottom of the eighth inning when Aroz collided with Utah Valley catcher Mason Strong, who was positioned in front of home plate. Although Strong did not commit obstruction, umpires ruled the contact to be worthy of ejection. Initially, Aroz was awarded a run, but this decision was overturned, leading to significant confusion and frustration on the Oregon bench.
“Our conversations were that the call came from Pittsburgh,” Wasikowski remarked postgame, expressing disbelief over the ruling. He emphasized his pride in Aroz’s aggressive play style, citing lessons from his own upbringing in sports. “Playing hard was not rewarded tonight by whatever rule was supposedly violated,” he lamented.
The ejection proved costly for Oregon, nullifying a potential run that could have narrowed the score to 6-5. The Ducks ultimately lost the game 6-5, with Aroz’s presence sorely missed in the lineup.
Aroz, a junior standout and All-Big Ten Third-Team selection, has maintained an impressive .281 batting average this season, with 16 home runs and 52 RBIs. His defensive skills are equally remarkable, showcasing a .975 fielding percentage with only four errors from 149 putouts.
Oregon will face Cal Poly on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. ET, a crucial game for the Big Ten regular season champions as they aim to keep their postseason hopes alive.
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