Ask UEFL - SMC-LMU Game-Ending HBP Strike Rule

When Loyola-Marymount University defeated Saint Mary's College on Sunday, 10-9, the game's final call—a hit-by-pitch strike three call for leaning into the ball—drew several questions. From a baseball rules perspective, here is the answer.

Play: With two out and one on (R3) in the top of the 9th inning of a one-run ballgame, trailing team Saint Mary's pinch hitter Javy Espinoza prepared for LMU pitcher Owen Hackman's 2-2 offering. Upon the pitched ball making contact with batter Espinoza's right leg, the home plate umpire ruled Espinoza out to end the game.

Relevant Rule: NCAA Rule 7-4-i states that, in college baseball, a strike is "Awarded if the batter is judged to intentionally make a movement to be hit by a pitch, regardless of where the pitch is located; or allows themself to be intentionally hit by a pitch that is not thrown within the boundaries of the batter's box unless it was not possible to avoid being hit." NCAA 8-2-d-1b further clarifies: "If the ball is within the batter's box occupied by the batter and the batter makes no movement to intentionally get hit by the pitch, the batter is awarded first base. In other words, a batter who freezes inside the batter's box and who is hit by the pitch shall be awarded first base." No matter the batter's movements, if the pitched ball contacts the batter within the strike zone, it is a dead ball strike.

This is a different rule than both high school and professional baseball. NFHS 7-3-4 states that the batter shall not "permit a pitched ball to touch them" unless the touching is unavoidable. The penalty in high school is that the pitch is ruled according to its location. This is similar to MLB/MiLB's way of calling this particular play, as OBR 5.05(b)(2) states that the batter becomes a runner entitled to first base when "touched by a pitched ball which they are not attempting to hit unless (A) The ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, or (B) The batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball." As in high school, the pitch is ruled a strike or ball depending on its location, as if the pitch hadn't touched the batter.

Under all three rulesets, "Time" is called as the ball becomes dead upon touching the batter.

Summary: NCAA's yardstick is whether or not the batter intentionally moved to get hit (tried TO), while NFHS/OBR's standard is whether or not the batter tried to avoid being hit (tried NOT to).

As for SMC-LMU, the umpire's judgment, thus, is whether or not the batter intentionally made a movement to be hit by the pitch or allowed this avoidable touch to occur (and the pitch was not located in the batter's box). If either event occurred, the proper call is dead ball and, with a 2-2 count, strike three, effectively ending the game. Had this occurred in NFHS or OBR, it would have resulted in a 3-2 count if the pitch was located outside of the strike zone or a strikeout if the pitch was thrown in the zone.

Did the batter intentionally make a movement to be hit by this pitch? | Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Analysis of batter's HBP rules re intent, avoidance & location (LMU/WCC)

Here's a concise look:

If the batter intentionally moves to get hit by a pitched ball...

NCAA: The batter incurs a strike, regardless of where the pitch was thrown (including within the batter's box).

NFHS/OBR: The pitch is ruled a ball or strike depending on its location.

If the batter doesn't try to avoid being hit...

NCAA: The batter incurs a strike, UNLESS the ball was within the batter's box (if thrown within batter's box, see next scenario).

NFHS/OBR: The pitch is ruled a ball or strike depending on its location.

If the batter doesn't try to avoid being hit & pitch is located within the batter's box...

NCAA: The batter is awarded first base and the pitcher charged a hit-by-pitch.

NFHS/OBR: The pitch is ruled a ball or strike depending on its location.

If the batter doesn't try to avoid because contact is unavoidable...

NCAA: The batter is awarded first base and the pitcher charged a HBP,

NFHS/OBR: The batter is awarded first base and the pitcher charged a HBP,

UNLESS: The pitch is located within the strike zone, upon which case the batter incurs a strike. If strike three, the batter is out. Under all scenarios, the ball is dead.