Iowa was knocked out of the Big Ten baseball tournament on Thursday, and a rough call in extra innings certainly did not help them.
Iowa and Illinois were playing in a loser’s bracket elimination game at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. The Illini had scored two runs in the top of the 10th inning to go up 4-2, but Iowa was mounting a rally in the bottom half.
The Hawkeyes had the bases loaded with nobody out and Michael Seegers at the plate. Seegers hit a grounder to first that was fielded by Illinois first baseman Drake Westcott, who threw to second for a forceout. That should have made it 4-3 with runners on the corners and one out.
This is extra innings in an elimination game in the B1G Tournament.
Iowa trails Illinois 4-2 with the bases loaded, no outs.
This slide by Kyle Huckstorf is ruled “interference”.
Results in a DP & negates a run.
One of the worst calls you’ll ever see. pic.twitter.com/bTQcMYwXVn
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) May 23, 2024
Instead, the umpire at second called pinch runner Kyle Huckstorf out for interference on his slide into second base. That forced the runner back to third and cost Iowa an extra out. Instead of it being 4-3 with one out, it was back to 4-2 but with two outs.
The umpire determined that Huckstorf was out of the baseline with his slide, and called him out. Iowa’s next batter struck out to end the game and the team’s season, while Illinois moved on in the loser’s bracket.
That’s such a tough way for Iowa’s season to end, especially on the same day we saw the White Sox go down on a similar call.
