Question on Umpire Mistake

Question
Runners on first and third with 1 out.  Batter hits ground ball to short stop who fields ball and throws to second base to force runner out. Second baseman throws to first base to get runner going first but runner is safe at first. Runner at third goes home.  

Umpire then yells "third out" and team in field heads to dug out. Batting team protests and after about 10 minutes and consulting score book it is determined that umpire was mistaken and three outs were not made.  Umpire then resumes the game by making the runner originally at third return to third without his run counting. Batter is at first and next batter comes up.

Was this the correct call? The explanation I got from the umpire was that he called a "dead ball" but did not say when it was dead or explain further.  I checked through the ASA rule book and could not find a rule that fits.  Any thoughts you may have would be appreciated!

Answer
Hi Terrell,

Based on part of CH 10 the umpire must do what they can to make a "mess" they made, fair.

IMHO opinion if R1 scored before the mess started I would certainly score the run. I would also score the run if no play was being made or no out was possible.

Also "3rd out" means nothing from an umpire's point of view, both the offense and the defense should know how many outs there are (as should the umpire!). I don't see why they would call dead ball though as we don't do that at the end of a 1/2 inning.  I don't buy that they called DB which could complicate things a little (maybe) depending on where R1 was.

Mark