hit runner

Question
Runners are on 1st and 2nd, batter hit ball that hits the runner on 1st going to second, umpire ruled runner that got hit out, batter gets 1st but the player on 2nd was awared 3rd.  I thought this was a dead ball, batter gets 1st and the player on 2nd goes back to 2nd and the runner being hit is out.  Please help.

Answer
Hi Paul,

When a runner is hit with an untouched fair batted ball before it has passes an infielder (exc F1) the ball is dead, the runner is out, the b-r is awarded 1st base and all other runners return to the last base touched at the time of the interference.  They advance only if forced by the b-r being awarded 1st base.

In your play you are correct and the umpire was incorrect in awarding R1 3rd base, they should have been returned to 2nd.  This is a misapplication of the playing rules and subject to the "P" word being brought out by the defense.

Mark

In this scenario the runner must be off base, different rules apply if hit on base and in no case unless the runner intentionally interferes are they out.