Mike Bianco reveals new tidbit on controversial sixth inning replay review

Mike Bianco may become a spokesman for Jumbotrons around the world after the part it played in Ole Miss‘ title-sealing victory over Oklahoma on Sunday.

No championship game is without any controversy, and Game 2 of the College World Series finals had its fair share. With the showdown tied and no runs on the board, the Sooners attempted a squeeze bunt to take the lead — and it looked like John Spikerman laid down a beauty to score the game’s first run.

However, replay review showed Spikerman running out of the baseline, and instead he was called out due to interference. Afterwards, Bianco spoke about the controversial call that benefitted his squad.

“Yeah, thank God for the Jumbotron, huh? Geez. Yeah, I was frustrated because I went out the pitch before and knew that they would safety squeeze or thought they would safety squeeze, so we went and made sure everybody knew what they were supposed to do. Terrific bunt by their lead-off guy,” started Bianco. “Hunter being left-handed made the play much more difficult for him. He throws the ball, and of course another bunt play in this World Series that looks like we’re going to screw up, and the ball goes in, and we give up the run.

“And as I just by chance, because I don’t look at the Jumbotron a lot, I just looked up, not because of that, and I went, my gosh, he’s out of the running lane. So that’s why I ran on the field. It’s so loud, usually you can yell to the umpire, but you can’t hear anything out there. I ran out there because I didn’t want a pitch to be thrown or you’re done.

“Yeah, give that to the scoreboard — credit goes to the scoreboard guy.”

In the bottom of the inning, Ole Miss made it sting even more, taking the lead on a Jacob Gonzalez home run. While the Sooners would fight back and eventually take a one-run lead, the Rebels wouldn’t be denied — using a three-run bottom of the eighth to take the lead and never look back.

Nevertheless, Mike Bianco and Ole Miss made history on Sunday, capturing their first College World Series title — controversy be damned.