In a remarkable turn of events at the Women’s College World Series on Friday night, Oregon’s catcher Emma Cox experienced an unusual incident while handling pitches from All-American Lyndsey Grein. Renowned for her intense throwing style, Grein managed to create a unique situation during the game against Mississippi.
Grein’s powerful pitch caused a clump of dirt to fly into the air during her delivery. In a surprising moment, the 67-mph ball collided with this airborne dirt, shattering it into smaller particles. As a result, Cox found herself with dirt particles in her eyes, even though the pitch perfectly landed in her glove.
Did not back down, despite the unexpected complication, Cox quickly regained her composure. “I initially thought it was just dirt from my glove that got me,” Cox explained in a post-game interview. Surprisingly, the umpire clarified the bizarre situation to her: apparently, a bug had been involved in the incident, adding yet another layer to this rare moment in sports.
Comparatively unusual, this incident potentially parallels the infamous occurrence when pitcher Randy Johnson accidentally struck a bird with his fastball back in 2001, highlighting how unpredictable sports moments can be.
With the spotlight momentarily divided between her and Grein’s exceptional pitch, Cox managed to stay in the game. Ultimately, Oregon clinched a 6-5 victory in a thrilling 10-inning game. The Ducks are now set to face an elimination challenge against Oklahoma on Sunday.