The Nebraska Cornhuskers won three games in a four-game series against the Grand Canyon Lopes this weekend, including a hard-fought victory on Sunday that featured a controversial call against GCU.Β
In the fifth inning of Sundayβs series finale, Lopes senior Tyler Wilson smacked a no-doubt grand slam to tie the game at eight runs apiece. It was clear from the moment the ball left the bat that it was gone, and as Wilson trotted to first base he held onto his bat for a moment and tossed it high in the air as he neared the bag to punctuate the dramatic blast.Β
It was a thrilling moment, but it led to Wilson being ejected for bat flipping.Β
π₯ πππππ ππππππ ππππ-πππππ ππππππ. π₯
We're tied at eight! @TyWilson44 pic.twitter.com/85ps62lsiX
β Grand Canyon Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) February 25, 2024
Hereβs a closer look at the bat flip.Β
The bat flip heard around Brazell. πͺ https://t.co/2YWiWybuHY pic.twitter.com/73MzfByJTD
β Grand Canyon Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) February 25, 2024
The NCAA adjusted its rules before last season to include bat flips on the list of acts of unsportsmanlike conduct. But the rule doesnβt flat-out ban such celebrations, it only mentions bat flips βnear or toward opponents.β Wilson didnβt appear to be directing his bat flip toward a particular Nebraska player, but it still got him ejected.Β
Without Wilson, a senior who was among the teamβs top hitters last season, the Lopes lost the game 10β8. The two players who replaced Wilson in the lineup after his ejection, Blake Avila and Cannon Peery, were 0-for-2.Β