Line Drive / Force Out?

Question
There's one out with the bases loaded.  The batter hits a line drive to 3rd, but, before the 3rd baseman catches the ball, the runner from 1st begins running to 2nd base (runners on 2nd and 3rd remain on their base).  The 3rd baseman catches the line drive, checks her runner on 3rd, and without hesitation throws the ball to pitcher.  The 1st base runner is now confused and standing near 2nd base.  The pitcher throws the ball to the 1st baseman and catches the ball with one foot on base who then throws it back to pitcher.  The 1st base runner returns to first (no tag was made).  The umpire called the runner safe because no tag was made.  The umpire said a tag must be made because there was no force out.

Am I missing something?  Isn't this baseball/softball 101?  If a runner leaves the base before a ball hit in the air is touched or hits the ground, the defense can throw the ball to that base, and if the base is tagged before the runner returns, the runner is out.

Did the umpire make the right call?

Answer
Hi Kevin,

Thank you for your question and a clear and thorough description of the play.  NO, you aren't missing something, YES, this is softball 101, and NO, the umpire did not make the right call!  In fact, since the umpire error was not an error in judgment, but an error in rule application, the defense could have brought the game to a grinding halt to air a protest.  The defense correctly executed a live ball appeal play by touching the base left too soon on a touched/caught fly ball.  They could have also achieved an out by tagging the runner.  The only thing that the umpire did correctly was to say that there was no force out.

Please allow me to clarify something said near the end of your question.  A runner can't be called out on an appeal play if they leave the base before a ball hit in the air touches the ground!  Only before a ball hit in the air is touched/caught.

Scott Kelly