base runner/batter

Question
Last night we had runner on 1st base and the girl up to bat hit a line drive to the short stop who trapped it and the umpire did not yell out, they pointed down as to say it was in play.  the runner at 1st and the batter assumed it was a caught ball and the runner was out, so the batter stopped running and the runner on 1st went back to 1st base.  The defensive team tagged the batter out first and then tagged the runner who now is standing on 1st base and did not advance to 2nd.  the umpires said because we tagged the batter out first the runner did not have to advance.  I always thought when a runner is on 1st and the batter hits the ball that forces you to advance, you must advance.
Lorraine

Answer
Hi Lorraine,

When you put out the b-r you removed the force.  R1 is no longer required to vacate the base because there is no longer any runner behind her "forcing" her to the next base.  Since she can legally occupy 1st she is not out if tagged while on it.

Mark