A softball game between the Florida Gators and the Stetson Hatters at Patricia Wilson Field in DeLand, Fla., was interrupted by something bigger than the game itself.
Players, coaches, fans and everyone in the park all stopped whatever they were doing in the middle of the game to witness Artemis II soaring on its way to outer space.
Eyes and phones all shifted toward the incredible journey of the first crewed moon mission since 1972, as it ripped through the sky. A spaceship hurtling into the cosmos surely was a much more compelling event than a softball game.
You can watch a video of their reactions here.
when you’re playing softball but you see someone on their way to the moon: pic.twitter.com/qDPq86zUiU
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 2, 2026
It is not every day that an opportunity to see such a spectacle arises, so everyone’s instinct upon seeing Artemis II was perfectly understandable.
As for the astronauts on the mission, they likely had no idea their flight caused a delay in the matchup between the Gators and the Hatters, but if they’re interested to know who won once they return home safely, it’s Florida, which scored an 8-2 victory.
Like Artemis II’s flight, the Gators’ win featured something historic, with Jocelyn Erickson becoming just the sixth player in the history of the program to amass at least 200 RBIs after driving in two runs for Florida.
