College Softball Coaches Sound Off on Brutal Obstruction Call in WCWS Finals Game 1

Jun 4, 2025; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; The field is ready for game one of the finals between the Texas Longhorns and the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the NCAA Softball Women's College World Series finals at Devon Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images | Brett Rojo-Imagn Images

Game one of the Women’s College World Series final is already off to controversy and the obstruction calls just continue to get crazier. 

In a scoreless game through five innings, Logan Hallerman reached on a fielding error by Kaydee Bennett. She tried to steal second, but Reese Atwood threw down to Leighann Goode and was out by a mile. Gerry Glasco challenged the play for obstruction and the call came back saying that Goode’s left foot was in the baseline when she applied the tag, awarding Hallerman a second life. 

Flat out brutal call in the Women’s College World Series. Called out on the field but changed to safe after review because of obstruction. Nah, that’s not right. pic.twitter.com/ISysSOCDy3

— Tim Goergen (@Tim_Goergen) June 5, 2025

With one out instead of two, Mihyia Davis took advantage of having a runner on and sent an RBI single to center field allowing Hallerman to score.

And did that start quite the conversation among some of softball’s greatest on social media. 

#LetThemPlay These obstruction appeals & call changes have to stop, let us play!!!! It’s taking away from the incredible talent & integrity of our game! #WCWS

— Jennie Finch (@JennieFinch) June 5, 2025

CHANGE THE OBSTRUCTION CALL!!! That is insane … the best I’ve seen done with your momentum and ball taking you into the base path!!!

— Skylar Wallace (@Wallace2Skylar) June 5, 2025

I’m not gonna lie if I were ever to get tossed from a game it would be a lame obstruction call on a throw down or play at the plate…

That is a joke. Heck of a throw Reese.

— Aubree Munro Watson OLY (@Aubree_Munro1) June 5, 2025

CHANGE THE RULE!

— Carol Hutchins (@UMCoachHutch) June 5, 2025

Please put common sense back into the obstruction rule!!!

— Karen Weekly (@KarenWeekly) June 5, 2025

Many are even calling upon college coaches, who have the right to vote about rules in an end-of-the-season survey, to actually take the time to open the survey and make a difference in the game. 

COACHES: When the rules survey email hits your inbox, make sure to open it and vote.

Posting/complaining about rules ➡️ voting about rules

— Tara Henry (@notarabledays) June 5, 2025

Obstruction has been a clear problem this entire post-season, and this ridiculous call may have cost the Longhorns the game. In the post-game press conference, Texas’ head coach Mike White gave his input on the call that almost ruined the game for his team. 

“I was on the rules committee a couple of years ago, and it's a tough deal because one of the things you want to be able to do is allow us to make softball plays,” White said. Obviously that was a softball play.  It didn't work out. So, yes, we do need to maybe look at that and change it so that it's not written that way and allows a little more interpretation or leeway.  We brought in the ruling that, if the throw takes you offline coming into home plate, you're allowed to go get the ball, and that was a good change.  Now we need to look at some of these other things that are taking away these really great plays.  That was a great throw and a great tag, but by the rule book, they had to call it the way they called it.”