Things got heated in Austin Thursday night. LSU and Texas squared off in a high-stakes softball matchup, but it wasn’t just the final score that turned heads. A violent first-base collision between Tigers slugger Maddox McKee and Longhorns first baseman Joley Mitchell has taken center stage, drawing national attention and dividing fans over intent and interpretation.
The Tigers dropped the game 7-3, but many are talking more about the moment McKee plowed into Mitchell than the scoreboard.
With two outs and a shot into right field, McKee turned on the jets. She rounded first with eyes toward second, only to crash full-speed into Mitchell, who was standing in the base path. Mitchell hit the dirt hard as a result of the collision.
The umpires huddled, reviewed the footage, and handed LSU a warning for flagrant contact. McKee stayed in the game and her coach laughed off the warning. That only added fuel to the fire.
Collision Or Calculated Hit?
What actually happened depends on who you ask.
LSU supporters argue McKee did what any runner would do. She sprinted hard, focused on the ball, and collided with a fielder in her path. By the book, if the fielder blocks the base path with the ball in hand, runners can make contact, as long as they attempt to reach the base.
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McKee’s supporters point to her posture and facial expression as signs she was bracing for impact, not launching an attack.
A serious lack of class from LSU softball tonight. Someone could have been seriously hurt by Maddox McKee and you’ve got a first base coach laughing about the warning. Absolutely wild. Gonna be a spicy weekend in Austin I feel 🫣 pic.twitter.com/3fXp0rvyvy
— ncaasoftballstuff (@ncaasoftballstf) April 18, 2025
But Texas fans see it differently. To them, McKee didn’t just collide- she delivered a hit. The impact left Mitchell face down in the dirt. Critics call the play dirty and classless, accusing McKee of taking a cheap shot in frustration. A widely shared image shows the moment of contact and has been used by many to argue that McKee’s intent was far from innocent.
The fallout is immediate. Tensions between the two powerhouse programs have hit a boiling point, and with more games on the weekend slate, this series suddenly carries more than playoff implications. It’s personal now. And both dugouts know it.
No suspensions followed the incident, but all eyes will be on the field when LSU and Texas take the diamond again. Whether it was reckless aggression or a hard-nosed softball play, one thing is clear: this rivalry just found new life.
