Mississippi State baseball suspensions: Bulldogs players out vs. Georgia after Saturday game

Saturday's incident between Mississippi State baseball and Georgia, which resulted in numerous ejections, has also resulted in several player suspensions for Sunday's game.

Things got ugly in the eighth inning of Mississippi State's 3-2 loss at Dudy Noble Field when Georgia runner Dillon Carter attempted to score a run from first base on a double by Tre Phillips. He slid head-first to home, where he was tagged out by MSU catcher Johnny Long. Multiple players from both benches entered the playing field after Long stood over Carter, resulting in 11 player ejections.

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Georgia's Clayton Chadwick hit a ninth-inning home to win the game 3-2 and square the series after Mississippi State's Friday victory.

Now both teams will have a more challenging time filling out their lineup cards for Sunday's rubber match after the SEC announced its suspensions from the incident. Here's what you need to know:

What happened in the Mississippi State-Georgia baseball game?

In a 2-2 game at the top of the eighth inning, Phillips sent a ball to the right-center wall, and Carter attempted to score from first. The Bulldogs executed a relay play, and Long tagged Carter as he dove into home. After the tag, Long appeared to take exception to something and confronted Carter while he was on the ground.

It appeared in the video that Long kneed Carter a couple of times in the ribs. Carter seemed to avoid contact with Long, but did get him on his side as he dove into home plate. The home plate umpire quickly separated Long from Carter, but it also cleared both benches.

As a result, 11 players were ejected from the game, including star right fielder Dakota Jordan, who leads the team in batting average, home runs, and RBIs. The umpires informed the coaches which players were ejected but never publicly announced the ejections.

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Mississippi State-Georgia player suspensions

The SEC announced suspensions for players stemming from the benches clearing on Sunday morning. Long and third baseman Logan Kohler were the two MSU players suspended. Gonzalez, catcher/outfielder Henry Hunter and pitcher Daniel Padysak were among the Georgia players suspended.

Per Georgia beat writer Marc Weiszer of Online Athens, Georgia baseball can stagger the suspensions between the two catchers, so the Bulldogs will not be without a catcher for Sunday's game.

"The Southeastern Conference has announced one-game suspensions for student-athletes for Sunday’s Georgia at Mississippi State baseball game, following an incident between the schools on Saturday. During the eighth inning of Saturday’s game between Georgia and Mississippi State, a play resulted in players from both teams converging at home plate. After video review during the game, players from both teams were ejected and subject to suspension.

"After further video review of the incident Saturday night and Sunday morning, and in consultation with the NCAA’s security-rules editor, it was determined that the following student-athletes remain suspended for Sunday’s game between Georgia and Mississippi State."

Mississippi State

• Johnny Long

• Logan Kohler

Georgia

• Henry Hunter

• Fernando Gonzalez

• Daniel Padysak

SEC explains the rule for ejections

Per the SEC news release, here is the rule used to enforce the ejections from Saturday's game:

"The ejections on Saturday night were the result of the application of NCAA Rule 5.16.c which states that team personnel who leave their position to potentially participate in a verbal altercation or physical confrontation shall be ejected and suspended for one game. After further video review by the Conference office and consultation with the NCAA, the player suspensions were narrowed to five players.

"NCAA Rule 5.16.c. Team Personnel Leaving Position—Team personnel leaving their position to potentially participate in a verbal altercation or a physical confrontation (e.g., pushing, shoving, bumping) or a fight (see 5-16-a) shall include players, coaches and team personnel.

"The position of various team members is determined by where the individual is located (e.g., dugout, bullpen, coaching box, on base, at bat, defensive position) at the time a confrontational situation develops.

"PENALTY— (1) Any team personnel (other than coaches) who leave the dugout or bullpen to enter the field at the time of a potential altercation or fight shall be ejected and suspended for one game. All team personnel (including coaches) who leave their positions and participate in a fight shall be ejected and suspended for the team’s next four contests."

Mississippi State statement

"The process and outcome of last night's 8th inning in our game against Georgia was absurd, ridiculous, and embarrassing on so many levels. I understand why so many are outraged, as I am," MSU athletic director Selmon wrote in a note on his X account (formerly Twitter) on Sunday morning.

The rest of the statement can be read here.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State baseball suspensions: Bulldogs players out vs. Georgia after Saturday game