UCA UALR Brawl: Baseball Teams Clash, 1 Coach and 7 Players Suspended Over 'Embarrassing' Incident (VIDEO)
A UCA UALR brawl took place Wednesday night when the two Arkansas college baseball teams met. The entire dugouts of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans and the University of Central Arkansas Bears ended up in a no-holds-barred melee after one coach shoved another coach to the ground while on the field.
The fight resulted in suspensions on both sides— a UCA assistant coach and two players were suspended for four games, while another was suspended for eight; and UALR had four players suspended for four games and another with an eight-game suspension, according to KATV news.
The entire incident began in the 10th inning: UCA coach Allen Gum was arguing over an umpire call that favored the opposing team, but UALR coach Scott Norwood came out of the dugout to argue the call as well. Gum then chest-checked Norwood, and things escalated quickly.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
UCA volunteer assistant coach Trent Kline then ran onto the field and shoved Norwood hard to the ground, and both team dugouts swarmed onto the field, pushing and punching each other. The resulting fracas delayed the game for 20 minutes, but the Bears seized a 5-4 victory in the 11th inning.
"I'd just like to say last night's incident that happened is something we take very, very seriously," Norwood told reporters at a press conference Thursday. "It's an embarassment to the university. ... This type of behavior sets a bad example for our student-athletes and most of all for our fans as well. I deeply regret that this happened."
"The University of Central Arkansas athletics department regrets the incident that occurred during Wednesday night's baseball game between the Bears and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Trojans at Bear Stadium," UCA Athletic Director Brad Teague said in a statement. "We realize there is no place in collegiate athletics for such an incident."
The Trojans are scheduled to host the Bears on April 23 in Little Rock, according to reports.
