Is a ball that (allegedly) goes over the fence a home run if no one sees it go over the fence?
That is the question everyone around the Southeastern Conference is asking after a bizarre set of events in Columbia, Mo., late Friday night/early Saturday morning.
With Vanderbilt trailing Missouri 7-6 with runners on first and second and two outs in the top of the ninth, left fielder Braden Holcomb hit a ball deep into the right-center field gap. The problem? No one could see the ball through the heavy fog.
THIS IS WILD.
Vanderbilt hit, according to them a go ahead HR, according to Mizzou a ground-rule double. According to the trackman data, it was a HR, but umpires after review rule it a ground rule double. Game suspended, to be resumed tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VR0ViaBKDi
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) May 9, 2026
The Commodores assumed it was a home run, giving them a 9-7 lead. One umpire signaled it was a home run.
1. That isn’t how the rule works, even if there wasn’t a call on the field.
2. There was a call on the field, about halfway into this video.
Calling it a ground rule doubles is effectively overturning the call on the field. https://t.co/KCkAbfgUH6 pic.twitter.com/eq9y5glIhE
— CJ Olson (@CJOlsonFB) May 9, 2026
And data from Trackman seemed to agree, indicating the ball traveled 379 feet with a launch angle of 18 degrees.
340 down the lines and 375 to the power alleys, so in theory 379 should be gone either way https://t.co/9BXWDWJqMU
— Aria Gerson (@aria_gerson) May 9, 2026
But the play was reviewed and ruled a ground-rule double. Two of the three runs were taken off the scoreboard, resulting in a 7-7 tie with runners on second and third.
The game was suspended and will resume at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday.
The SEC issued the following statement on Saturday morning: “During the top of the 9th with runners on first and second base, the batter hit a ball to right center field that was difficult to locate due to poor visibility. Upon conferring as a crew, the umpires ruled that the play was a ground rule double, scoring the runner from second base. After video review, the call on the field was upheld as no video evidence was available to overturn the call due to low visibility. Play was then suspended due to visibility conditions and will be resumed today at 4 p.m. in the top of the 9th with two outs, runners on second and third, and a score of 7-7.”
The controversial top of the ninth followed a bullpen implosion from Vanderbilt in the bottom of the eighth. The Commodores were seemingly in complete control and held a 6-1 lead, but Missouri scored six runs, including two on bases-loaded walks, in the home half of the eighth to take a 7-6 lead.
This is a pivotal series for Vanderbilt, which is 10-14 in the SEC and in jeopardy of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005.
