STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball's Johnny Long issued a statement Sunday addressing his ejection from Saturday's contest against Georgia at Dudy Noble Field.

"I strive to play this game with grit, passion and integrity," Long posted on X (formerly Twitter). "Last night, following a highly competitive play at the plate with the game on the line, I let my emotions and adrenaline get the best of me. My actions were not reflective of my true character. It was crushing to not be out there with my teammates (Sunday), but I take full responsibility for my mistake. I am proud to be a Mississippi State Bulldog. I love our team, our program and our community, and will do nothing short of giving my absolute best for the M over S every single day to help will my teammates to victory."

With the game tied at two in the eighth inning, Georgia's Dillon Carter was looking to score from first base on a double. Carter was tagged out by Long after a relay.

Long appeared to take offense to Carter's slide and shouted while towering over Carter after the play. The altercation led to both benches clearing and at least 10 players getting ejected after a review of about 40 minutes.

MSU coach Chris Lemonis voiced his displeasure with how the situation was handled by the SEC − though he emphasized again Sunday that he was not blaming the umpires at Dudy Noble Field. A review from a remote location took place in which players who came onto the field were punished.

For Lemonis, that was an unfair situation considering his team was on the field for play.

"(The umpires) are literally almost apologizing to us as this is going on," Lemonis said postgame Saturday. "But that's bad. That's not the interpretation of the rule. If it's an interpretation of the rule, then everybody should've been thrown out and it should have been a forfeit. But it was who came out of the dugout that we can identify? Who didn't have a hoodie on? My team was on the field. My team is literally on the field, what are they supposed to do? Not one of those kids that got kicked out was aggressive. They didn't come in aggressive. Nobody started a fight. They were on the field. They were coming off the field to congratulate their teammate and my entire lineup gets taken out."

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Five players between the teams were given a one-game suspension, including Long and teammate Logan Kohler.

"The process and outcome of last night's 8th inning in our game against Georgia was absurd, ridiculous, and embarrassing on so many levels. I understand why so many are outraged, as I am," MSU athletic director Zac Selmon posted on X.

Lemonis said he and Selmon were on the phone together until 3 a.m. Sunday morning trying to unpack the situation.

Mississippi State won Sunday's rubber match, 9-8, to secure a series win.

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @skrajisnik3.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: What Mississippi State's Johnny Long said about ejection vs Georgia