Skip to main content
Join Now
Get a profile. Be recruited.

Arkansas pitcher Zach Root taunts Tennessee, Andrew Fischer with NSFW tirade: 'F**k you'

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh06/07/25griffin_mcveigh
on3.com/ohio-state-transfer-pitcher-landon-beidelschies-commits-to-arkansas/
Feb 23, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; The Arkansas Razorbacks plays against the Oregon State Beavers during the Kubota College Baseball Series - Weekend 2 at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports

Your average SEC weekend series has a ton of emotions between the two teams. But when you are playing a conference foe in a Super Regional, the back-and-forth talk is going to run rampant. Arkansas and Tennessee are great examples, both being teams that play with a little extra something.

The top of the sixth inning, maybe things began to boil over a little too much. Arkansas pitcher Zach Root got a much-needed double-play ball off Andrew Fischer to get out of the frame. Walking back to the dugout, Root taunted Fisher and went on an NSFW tirade.

Players had to pull Root back into the dugout, possibly saving him from something more than just an eventual warning from the umpires. You can check out the full moment from Root here, one filled with quite a few expletives.

As mentioned, warnings were handed out by the umpires to both teams. However, ESPN play-by-play announcer Tom Hart asked if there should have been something more for Root. A possible ejection was questioned by Hart, turning over to color commentator Kyle Peterson.

“Listen, you can think of what you want from the Soto take earlier in the game,” Peterson said. “But the reality is Fisher really hadn’t said anything and Root kind of lost it for a minute. (Ryder) Helfrick might have saved him. Helfrick grabbed him by the jersey and starting pulling him off the field.”

Chris Burke, another color commentator in Fayetteville, agreed with Peterson’s assessment. He thought Root’s actions may have crossed the line, wondering if something more should have been assessed. Thus, nothing extra came from the umpires.

A few minutes later, Root was back out there for the seventh inning, holding onto a two-run lead for Arkansas. He might be hoping to get a couple more innings out of his talented left arm, maybe even going into the ninth inning.

This is just Game 1 of the Super Regional, still having a ton of baseball to play. Taking home the opener is quite important as nearly 80% of the Game 1 winners wind up playing in the College World Series. It’s easy to understand why Root is fired up.

But now, there may be an extra layer to this matchup we have to watch throughout the weekend. Umpires are already on high alert and if another incident occurs, action might be taken in a critical moment.