In a dramatic turn of events at the 2025 College World Series finals, Coastal Carolina's head coach Kevin Schnall and first base coach Matt Schilling were ejected in the bottom of the first inning of Game 2 against LSU on Sunday, June 22, at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. The ejections came at a critical moment when Coastal Carolina was looking to stay alive in the best-of-three series after falling 1-0 to LSU in Game 1.
The incident unfolded with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. Coastal Carolina’s Sebastian Alexander had just stolen second base on a first-pitch called strike from LSU pitcher Anthony Eyanson, and Walker Mitchell was at bat. Schnall stepped out of the dugout and approached home plate umpire Angel Campos, visibly upset, gesturing with three fingers and apparently signaling that three pitches were missed by the umpire crew. Schnall began loudly arguing balls and strikes, which is strictly prohibited under NCAA rules.
According to NCAA Playing Rule 3-6-f-Note 1, “balls, strikes, half swings or decisions about hit-by-pitch situations are not to be argued.” After receiving an initial warning from Campos, Schnall was expected to return to the dugout. However, he did not comply immediately and instead continued his protest from the top steps of the dugout before moving onto the field to keep arguing. This defiance led to his ejection from the game.
Shortly after Schnall's ejection, first base coach Matt Schilling was also tossed from the game. Schilling was ejected for making comments to the umpires during the dispute. The NCAA clarified that an assistant coach’s ejection carries an automatic one-game suspension, and Schilling also received an additional two-game suspension for prolonged arguing, meaning he will miss the first three games of the 2026 season.
Schnall received a two-game suspension for his prolonged arguing, which will sideline him for the first two games of next season. These suspensions will extend fully into the next season as the series did not proceed to a Game 3. Had Coastal Carolina won Game 2, both coaches would have missed the decisive Game 3 scheduled for Monday, June 23, 2025.
Associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Chad Oxendine, who has prior head coaching experience at Longwood University from 2022 to 2024, stepped in to take over Schnall’s duties for the remainder of the game. Tyler Shewmaker, director of player development and recruiting, shifted to first base to fill Schilling’s spot.
The ejections sparked a significant reaction both on the field and across social media, with many questioning the timing and severity of the umpire’s decision so early in a championship game. The altercation occurred just 10 pitches into the bottom of the second inning, shortly after Alexander’s steal, when the game was still scoreless.
LSU head coach Jay Johnson remained composed amid the chaos, telling ESPN during a between-innings interview, “Stay poised, stay focused. Not get wrapped up in the external that we can’t control.” This mindset seemed to pay off as LSU quickly built a commanding lead, scoring five runs by the end of the third inning.
The Tigers went on to win Game 2 by a 5-3 score, clinching their second national championship in three years and their eighth overall College World Series title. LSU’s victory completed a two-game sweep over Coastal Carolina, who had entered the finals riding an impressive 26-game winning streak before their narrow 1-0 loss in Game 1, which was powered by Kade Anderson’s complete-game shutout and 10 strikeouts.
Despite the setback, Coastal Carolina showed resilience when they broke their scoring drought in Game 2’s top of the second inning with a solo home run from seven-hole hitter Dean Mihos. However, the early loss of their coaching leadership proved a significant hurdle.
The NCAA released an official statement on June 22 confirming the ejections and suspensions of Schnall and Schilling. The statement reiterated the rules around arguing balls and strikes, emphasizing that “after a warning, any player or coach who continues to argue balls, strikes, half swings or a hit-by-pitch situation shall be ejected from the game.”
Coastal Carolina’s hopes for a comeback in the series were dashed as LSU’s offense continued to pressure the Chanticleers. The ejections and resulting suspensions highlight the strict enforcement of NCAA baseball rules and the high stakes of championship-level competition, where emotions can run high but discipline is paramount.
With the series concluded, Schnall and Schilling will serve their suspensions at the start of the 2026 season, missing multiple games as a consequence of their actions during the finals. Meanwhile, LSU celebrates a well-earned title, adding another chapter to their storied baseball legacy.
