FRISCO – Following a review of a rules protest submitted by Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders regarding the March 6 baseball game against Nicholls State Colonels, the Southland Conference, in coordination with the conference’s Coordinator of Officials and in consultation with applicable National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) baseball rules and replay protocol, determined that an NCAA playing rule was incorrectly applied during the contest.

The protest stems from a play in the bottom of the first inning in which a batter for Texas A&M–Corpus Christi was ruled to have been hit by a pitch and awarded first base. Following a challenge by Nicholls, the umpiring crew conducted a video review. During that review process, the crew ruled that the batter was hit by the pitch, but that the batter swung at the pitch, resulting in a dead ball strike, and the batter was returned to home plate with a 1–1 count.

Under NCAA Baseball Rules and video review protocol under Appendix E, check swings are not reviewable. As a result, the review exceeded the scope permitted under NCAA rules and the original on-field ruling should have been upheld.

Based on this determination, the Southland Conference has upheld the protest and the game’s result has been nullified. The contest will be resumed from the point of interruption in the bottom of the first inning with two outs, bases loaded, and Nicholls leading 1–0. The protested game will be resumed at a later date.

Games two and three of the series will be played on Saturday, March 7, beginning at 1 p.m. at Chapman Field in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Additionally, following the conclusion of the current series, the umpires involved will be suspended for failing to properly apply NCAA replay review procedures.