Mercer walk off field and player’s mother ejected after home-run taunt

• Michael Gupton celebrates with exuberantly after home run

• Game paused for nearly 30 minutes after confrontations

Mercer were so incensed by an opposing player's home run celebration that they walked off the field during their Southern Conference tournament defeat on Saturday.

After he smoked a homer to give Samford a 5-1 lead (which they would not relinquish), Michael Gupton leapt and skipped while rounding the bases, breaking with the baseball custom in which players usually keep their celebrations in check immediately after hitting a home run. He also appeared to yell at Mercer shortstop Bradley Frye and the opposing dugout. The Mercer coaches voiced their displeasure with the umpires while Frye had to be held back as he approached Gupton.