UNC, Gardner-Webb have benches-clearing altercation after strikeout celebration

Tensions were high between players and coaches alike during a college baseball game between the UNC Tar Heels and Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs on Wednesday night. 

The North Carolina rivals got into a bit of a scuffle when Gardner-Webb pitcher Grant Vera celebrated a bit too hard for UNC infielder Jackson Van De Brake’s liking. 

Vera emphatically pumped his fist and looked like he was screaming in the direction of Van De Brake, who started to go back at him. If it wasn’t for the umpire holding the UNC leadoff hitter back, things might have gotten ugly. 

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As we’ve seen plenty in baseball, both benches cleared when the screaming match began. When the dust settled and the players were heading back to their respective dugouts, opposing coaches began to get into it, and it only escalated the situation again. 

Umpires, once again, got in the middle of the verbal altercation and nothing got physical in the end. 

NORTH CAROLINA HEAD COACH MACK BROWN SAYS COLLEGE FOOTBALL ‘WILL NEVER SEE AMATEURISM AGAIN’

It was a fun battle to watch, Gardner-Webb scored three in the top of the fourth inning and one more in the seventh to retake their lead at 4-3. 

But there were costly errors in the bottom of the eighth that allowed the Tar Heels to take the victory home. Reece Holbrook reached on a throwing error with the bases loaded, which allowed the tying run to score.

Then, pitcher Phil Fox balked, allowing the game-winning run to come across the plate.

When the final out was made by closer Matt Poston, a strikeout on Peter Capobianco, the UNC crowd went wild and catcher Tomas Frick gave a little scream and look at Capobianco as he made his way to the mound. 

UNC moved to 30-17 on the season overall, and Gardner-Webb is now 27-20 on the year.

Xavier president rips Bob Huggins for calling university's fans 'Catholic f--s'

Xavier University President Colleen Hanycz ripped West Virginia University men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins after he used a homophobic slur in reference to the school’s fans during a radio show appearance Monday morning. 

Huggins called Xavier fans "Catholic f--s" after claiming they threw "rubber penises" onto the court during the Crosstown Shootout, a rivalry game he used to be a part of while coaching the University of Cincinnati Bearcats

"I’ll tell you what, any school that can throw rubber penises on the floor and then say they didn’t do it, by God, they can get away with anything," Huggins said on "The Bill Cunningham Show."

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"It was the Crosstown Shootout. What it was was all those f--s, those Catholic f--s. They were envious they didn’t have one."

Cunningham laughed and called Huggins "the best" after he made the comments. 

Hanycz spoke during a school event Wednesday and condemned Huggins’ comments in a prepared speech.

BOB HUGGINS SUSPENDED 3 GAMES, TAKES $1M SALARY REDUCTION AFTER USING HOMOPHOBIC SLUR

"At Xavier, we are steadfastly committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming campus where every member of this community is valued and respected," Hanycz said. "This is at the very core of our mission and our identity as a Jesuit-Catholic university.

"The deplorable mischaracterizations and homophobic slurs directed towards our LGBTQ+ and our Catholic communities were repulsive and offensive. To those in our Xavier family who were directly targeted and harmed by these hateful words, be assured that you are invaluable members of our Xavier family and you belong here. Your presence makes us better."

Huggins won’t be losing his job as West Virginia’s basketball coach. The university detailed his punishment in a statement to Fox News Digital, saying his language "unfairly and inappropriately hurt many people and has tarnished West Virginia University.

"It is also a moment that provides the opportunity for learning. A moment that can shine a light on the injustice and hate that often befall the members of our marginalized communities," President E. Gordon Gee and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said in the statement. 

"While the university has never and will never condone the language used on Monday, we will use this moment to educate how the casual use of inflammatory language and implicit bias affect our culture, our community and our health and well-being." 

Huggins' salary will be reduced by $1 million, and the money will go to the school’s LGBTQ+ center, the Carruth Center, and other state and national organizations supporting marginalized communities.

Huggins has also been suspended for the first three games of the 2023-24 season, and his multi-year deal has now gone to a year-to-year situation. Use of similar language could result in his immediate termination. 

"Over the past 48 hours, I have reflected on the awful words that I shared on a radio program earlier this week," Huggins said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. "I deeply regret my actions, the hurt they unfairly caused others and the negative attention my words have brought to West Virginia University. 

EX-NBA PLAYER JOHN AMAECHI CALLS OUT WEST VIRGINIA COACH BOB HUGGINS FOR 'DISGUSTING' HOMOPHOBIC SLURS

"I also regret the embarrassment and disappointment it has caused our athletics family, members of our campus community and the state of West Virginia. I am sorry for the hurt and distress I have caused our students and our student-athletes. I represent more than just our university and our basketball program, and it pains me to know that I have let so many people down.

"I have no excuse for the language I used, and I take full responsibility. I will abide with the actions outlined by the university and athletics leadership to learn from this incident. I have had several conversations with colleagues and friends that I deeply respect and admire over the last 24 hours, and I am keenly aware of the pain that I have caused. I meant what I wrote on Monday — I will do better.

"I am looking forward to working with WVU’s LGBTQ+ Center and other state organizations to learn more about the issues facing the community. As a leader, I am eager to use my platform to take what I learn and share it with a broader audience."

Fox News’ Joe Morgan contributed to this report.

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