ASU star sophomore outfielder Landon Hairston was ejected in the Sun Devils' elimination game against No. 13 Nebraska and will be suspended for tonight's final game in the Lincoln Regional against Ole Miss.
Frustration from a difficult weekend at the plate boiled over after Hairston, in which he is 2-12 with only two RBIs, tempers flared after the home plate umpire called him out on a questionable strike three call.
The sophomore Golden Spikes semifinalist flung his bat high into the Lincoln, Nebraska sky. After deliberation and a discussion with head coach Willie Bloomquist, the umpires ejected Hairston from the game.
The Sun Devils overcame the loss of their star to eliminate the host Nebraska Cornhuskers with an 11-8 victory. Junior first baseman Dominic Smaldino led the way with two home runs and a grand slam, driving in six total runs.
Graduate pitcher Colby Guy started for the Sun Devils and delivered six innings of stellar baseball, allowing only one run on four hits and striking out seven.
"When an assistant coach, a player (other than a pitcher), or team personnel other than the head coach is ejected for disputing an umpire's decision or for unsportsmanlike conduct or language directed at an opponent or umpire (including a post-participation ejection), he will receive a one-game suspension in addition to the present game ejection," per the NCAA rulebook, Section 26, Paragraph F.
A split-second lapse in judgment from the typically calm Sun Devil superstar will now leave him absent in the team's next contest, as ASU looks to extend its season with a win against Ole Miss, who they will need to beat twice to advance to the super regional.
If ASU advances to a Game 7 of the Lincoln Regional, Hairston can return to the starting lineup and play alongside his fellow Sun Devils on Monday.
This story is developing and may be updated.
Edited by Char O'Neil, Natalia Jarrett and Claire Bixby
Reach the reporter at eapache3@asu.edu and follow @EricPachecoasu on X.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on X.
Eric Pacheco is a junior studying sports journalism. This is his second semester with The State Press. He previously served as Editor-in-Chief of the Riverside City College student newspaper Viewpoints.
