A final-inning replacement in center field, Johnson collided with Cougars right fielder Derek Jones as they chased a fly ball that fell for double by Joe Patterson with Washington State leading 7-5 to begin the bottom of the ninth. The crowd of 3,347 fell silent upon seeing Johnson’s body shake violently in convulsions after his head hit Jones’ knee.
The game was delayed 18 minutes while emergency personnel treated Johnson, a sophomore from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Johnson was placed on a back board and taken by cart off the field to an ambulance.
Johnson was treated and released from the College Station Medical Center around 7:30 p.m. Med spokesperson Melissa Purl said Johnson received the game ball from one of his coaches before leaving the hospital.
The incident resulted in a strange end to the game as the Cougars returned to the field after the delay to finish the victory in unusually subdued conditions.
“Hats off to our guys,” said WSU assistant coach Spencer Allen, who took over after head coach Donnie Marbut left in the ambulance with Johnson. “Everyone’s rattled, but you’ve got to block it out and make the plays.”
For more of the story, see Sunday's Eagle.
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