Pelican Interrupts College Baseball Game in California

Play briefly halted as giant bird gets trapped behind home plate during Loyola Marymount vs. UC Santa Barbara matchup.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A college baseball game between the Loyola Marymount Lions and UC Santa Barbara Gauchos was briefly interrupted when a giant pelican became trapped in the netting behind home plate at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium in California. The unexpected avian intruder caused a brief delay as fans rushed to free the bird, which eventually flew out of the ballpark on its own.

Why it matters

Unusual animal disruptions during live sporting events are relatively rare but can provide a lighthearted moment of levity for fans and players alike. This incident highlights the unpredictable nature of outdoor sports and the ability of wildlife to occasionally insert themselves into the action.

The details

In the fourth inning of the game, television cameras cut away from the on-field action to reveal the pelican dangling helplessly from the netting behind home plate. Several fans rushed over and worked to free the trapped bird, which eventually dropped to the field and then flew out of the stadium on its own.

  • The incident occurred during the fourth inning of the game on Tuesday, March 5, 2026.

The players

Loyola Marymount Lions

The college baseball team from Loyola Marymount University that was playing against UC Santa Barbara.

UC Santa Barbara Gauchos

The college baseball team from the University of California, Santa Barbara that was playing against Loyola Marymount.

Caesar Uyesaka Stadium

The baseball stadium in Santa Barbara, California where the game between Loyola Marymount and UC Santa Barbara was taking place.

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The takeaway

This unexpected pelican interruption during a college baseball game provided a lighthearted and memorable moment for the players, coaches, and fans in attendance. While animal disruptions at sporting events are rare, they can inject an element of unpredictability and fun into the proceedings, reminding everyone that the natural world can occasionally intersect with the world of sports in amusing ways.