Runner hit by thrown ball in a run down

Question
Hi Dr. Ambrose,
I may have wrongly called a runner out today in a Little League Softball game at the Junior level. A runner on 2nd was trying to steal 3rd. The runner realized she wasn't going to make it safely when the 3rd baseman caught the ball. The runner then started to run back to 2nd base; the 3rd baseman made a throw to the 2nd baseman but the ball ended up hitting the runner in the back.
I called the runner out because in my opinion the runner would have been out if not hit. This scenario was not a "run down" or "pickle". The 3rd baseman caught the ball at the base and took one or two steps then through the ball right down the base line towards 2nd. Also, you should know there was no intent of the runner to cause interference.
Was I wrong in calling her out?

Answer
Hi Roy,

You are incorrect in this case by calling the runner out.  This is not interference, simply a bad throw by F5 that hit R1.  Think about it, if this is interference we now have changed the game into "dodge softball" and that would not be good.

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