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Coastal Carolina coach Kevin Schnall ejected in first inning vs. LSU in heated start to CWS Finals Game 2

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby:Grant Grubbs•5 hours ago•

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© Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In the bottom of the first inning of Game 2 of the College World Series, Coastal Carolina head coach Kevin Schnall was ejected. It’s an elimination game for the Chanticleers, who lost to LSU in Game 1 of the CWS on Saturday.

Schnall stepped onto the field to seemingly complain about an umpire’s strike call. The umpire motioned for him to back up and when Schnall didn’t obey, the umpire ejected him from the game.

From there, Schnall stormed onto the field, going after the umpire who had thrown him out of the game. Another official attempted to step between Schnall and the umpire he was going after, and was knocked to the ground in the process.

Kevin Schnall wasn’t the only Coastal Carolina coach who was thrown out of the CWS contest. Chanticleers first base coach Matt Schilling was also ejected from the game after appearing to complain about the umpires’ decision to eject Schnall.

While commentators typically remain unbiased on the broadcast, ESPN’s crew couldn’t help but criticize the umpires’ early ejection of Schnall. Play-by-play announcer Karl Ravech was particularly critical of the ejection.

“That’s an aggressive ejection,” Ravech said. “Angel Campos is a name familiar in umpiring circles, had some major league experience as well, a veteran umpire. But Schnall and the first base coach Schilling have both been ejected from this College World Series game in the bottom of the first inning. And Schnall has emphasized to us the most important coach that he has is Schilling at first base.

“Boy I’ve never seen that before. The Coastal Carolina dugout is minus their first base coach, and more important than that, their head coach, with eight innings to play. … Backs already against the wall, and now you’re down two key personnel to help you guide you through this.”

Coastal Carolina recruiting coordinator Chad Oxendine is serving as the Chanticleers’ head coach in Schnall’s absence. Schnall’s ejection wasn’t even the first heated exchange of the game.

After Coastal Carolina pitcher Jacob Morrison retired LSU’s Jake Brown to end the top of the first inning, he appeared to have some words for LSU third base coach Josh Jordan. Jordan didn’t shy away from the confrontation, running directly in front of Morrison on the way back to LSU’s dugout.

While Coastal Carolina didn’t immediately respond with a big play after Schnall’s ejection, it didn’t take long for the Chanticleers to take out their frustration on the ball. In the bottom of the second inning, Coastal Carolina Dean Mihos crushed a ball over the left-field fence to give the Chanticleers a 1-0 lead.