A college baseball umpire has been suspended indefinitely after a decisive third-strike call that many saw as erroneous and retaliatory.

Mississippi Valley State lost a road game to the University of New Orleans on Friday night, 7-3, when Delta Devils left fielder Davon Mims was called out on strikes to end the top of the ninth.

Mims had visibly disagreed with a called second strike, which appeared to be well below his knees, and reacted by hopping out of the batter's box to show his displeasure.

The next pitch was even further from the strike zone, and Mims easily held off, but was punched out on what one announcer described as a 'horrific' call. Mims, who had only just regained his composure after the called second strike, erupted before being restrained by New Orleans Privateers catcher Jorge Tejeda.

Although the Southland Conference did not identify the home plate umpire by name in Saturday's statement, the box score lists Reggie Drummer as serving in that role in New Orleans on Friday.

'After a thorough review of the New Orleans and Mississippi Valley State baseball contest on March 10, 2023, the Southland Conference confirmed the home plate umpire's conduct and actions were deemed detrimental to the Conference and in violation of Section 3 Character and Conduct of the CCA Mechanics Manual for Baseball,' read the conference statement.

'As a result, the umpire has been removed from the series and has been suspended indefinitely from Southland Conference baseball games.'

Even before the suspension, fans and media were calling for a ban.

'What is going on,' tweeted former Orioles pitcher Ben McDonald. 'This umpire should be suspended! No way a game should end like this just because an umpire is holding a grudge!!'

ESPN+ announcers also seemed to sympathize with Mims in the moment.

'That's down,' the announcer said on the called third strike. 'Oh my gosh! Wow! He got wrung up on ball two and the game is over! Oh my goodness, that is horrific!

'The umpire just wanted to go home.'

MVS fell to 6-7 with the loss after riding a three-game winning streak.

They were scheduled to play New Orleans again on Saturday.

Mims is one of the team's best hitters, boasting a .331 average and .375 on-base percentage with seven extra-base hits on the young season.