Ask UEFL - Batter Interferes with Uncaught Third Strike

In this Ask the UEFL play from a UConn-Virginia NCAA baseball game, we look at a batter who inadvertently kicks an uncaught third strike, whether that qualifies as interference, and, if so, what the call should be for any runners attempting to steal during the play.

The Play begins with one out, a runner on first (R1), and a 2-2 count on the batter from the University of Connecticut. With R1 running on the pitch, the batter swings and misses on a pitch that winds up in the dirt and, as it bounces in front of the catcher, the batter begins running toward first base. While still in the batter's box, the batter's left foot inadvertently kicks the ball as the catcher tries to retrieve it; the runner slides into second base ahead of the tag.

The Call: With less than two out and first base occupied to begin the play, our HP Umpire emphatically gestures that the batter is out while the 2B Umpire calls the runner safe for having slid into the base before the tag. The result of the play is two out, R2.

The Rule: Even though the pitch resulted in an uncaught third strike, the batter is out because first base was occupied at the beginning of the play with less than two out (Official Baseball Rule 5.09(a)(3) ["batter is out when—a third strike is not caught by the catcher when first base is occupied before two are out"] / NCAA 7-11-g ["a third strike is not caught, provided a runner occupies first base and there is not more than one out"] / NFHS 7.4.1.b ["a third strike is not caught, provided a runner occupies first base and there are less than two out"]).

But what of the batter's unintentional, inadvertent kick of the loose ball?

NCAA Baseball released a series of "Major Rules Changes" prior to the 2021 season; "Batter interference - dropped third strike" is one of them. The new note for NCAA Rule 7-11-h states that "After a third strike that is not caught by the catcher and the batter-runner clearly hinders the catcher in the catcher's attempt to field the ball, the batter-runner is out, the ball is dead, and all other runners return to the bases they occupied at the time of the pitch regardless of the number of outs. If the pitched ball deflects off the catcher or umpire and subsequently touches the batter-runner, it is not considered interference unless, in the judgment of the umpire, the batter-runer clearly hinders the catcher in their attempt to field the ball, regardless the number of outs."

One thing that is important to note here is that the batter, by virtue of being out pursuant to NCAA 7-11-g, is not a batter-runner...but does that change things?

Rule 6-3-b relates squarely to the batter: "The ball becomes dead and base runners return when—The batter interferes with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter's box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher's play at home base."

Which sounds like the batter is out and R1 returns, right? Well, not so fast, as we continue reading into 6-3-b: "PENALTIES for b.—(2) If the batter strikes out, the runner is also out."

This is corroborated by NCAA Rule 7-11-f-EXCEPTION-3, which states in the case of a batter intentionally or unintentionally interfering with the catcher's fielding or throwing ("making any other movement that hinders a defensive player's action at home plate"), "If the batter also should strike out on the play, it is a double play."

Ruling: The batter is out on an uncaught third strike with first base occupied and less than two out. R1 is also out, for the batter having struck out because now the interference on a dropped third strike is no longer by a batter-runner, but by a retired batter. The batter cannot be doubly out for the uncaught third strike with first base occupied and less than two out AND for interference, so the interference puts out the runner attempting to steal, R1.

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Ask UEFL - Batter's INT with Uncaught Third Strike in NCAA Game (CCS)