EARNED RUN
SECTION 22. a. An earned run shall be charged against a pitcher when a runner scores
because of a safe hit, sacrifice hit, sacrifice fly, stolen base, putout, fielder’s choice, base
on balls, hit batter, balk or wild pitch (even when the wild pitch is a third strike), pro-
vided that in each case it is before the defensive team has had an opportunity to make a
third putout.
Note—In determining earned runs, the scorer shall reconstruct the inning as if there were no errors or passed
balls. Give the pitcher the benefit of the doubt in determining the advancement of runners, had the defensive team
been errorless.
b. No earned run shall be charged to a relief pitcher if the runner was on base when the
relief pitcher entered the game. Likewise, if a batter has more balls than strikes, unless
the count is one ball, no strikes, when a relief pitcher enters the game and the batter
receives a base on balls, charge that action to the preceding pitcher. Any other action of
the batter shall be charged to the relief pitcher.
c. No run shall be earned when scored by a runner whose time as a runner is prolonged
by an error, if such runner would have been put out by errorless play.
d. An error by a pitcher is treated exactly the same as an error by any other fielder in com-
puting earned runs.
e. When pitchers are changed during an inning, the relief pitcher shall not be charged with
any run (earned or unearned) scored by a runner who reaches base on a fielder’s choice
that puts out a runner left on base by a preceding pitcher.
Note—The intent of this rule is to charge each pitcher with the number of runners he put on base, rather than
with the individual runners.
f. When pitchers are changed during an inning, a relief pitcher shall not have the benefit
of errors made earlier in the inning. Thus, he will be charged with earned runs for which
he is totally responsible.
STRIKEOUT
SECTION 23. A strikeout is credited to the pitcher when a third strike is delivered to a bat-
ter, even if the third strike is a wild pitch or is not caught or the batter reaches first base. It
also is a strikeout if an attempted bunt on a third strike is a foul that is not caught.
Statistics
GAME SUMMARY
SECTION 24. The game summary should include all the items contained in the Official
NCAA Box Score, as shown on page 111.
WINNING AND LOSING PITCHERS
SECTION 25. a. For all games of eight or more innings, a starting pitcher must pitch at least
five complete innings to receive credit as the winning pitcher. For all games of fewer
than eight innings, the starting pitcher must pitch at least four innings to get credit for
the win. Additionally, the winning pitcher’s team must be in the lead when he is
replaced and must remain in the lead for the rest of the game.
b. If the starting pitcher does not pitch enough innings, the win is credited to a relief pitch-
er in the following manner:
(1) The winning relief pitcher shall be the one who is the pitcher of record when his team
goes ahead and remains ahead throughout the remainder of the game. No pitcher may
receive credit for a victory if the opposing team ties the score or goes ahead after he has
left the game.
Note—Whenever the score is tied, the game becomes a new contest insofar as the winning and losing pitchers are
concerned.
Exception—If a relief pitcher conforms to the above regulations but pitches briefly and
ineffectively, the scorer should not credit him with a win. If a succeeding relief pitcher pitch-
es effectively and helps maintain the lead, the scorer should award the win to that suc-
ceeding pitcher.
(2) By prearrangement, if three or more pitchers are to be used, the pitcher of record
shall be considered the winning pitcher.
c. When a batter or runner is substituted for a pitcher, all runs scored by his team during
that inning are to his credit in determining the pitcher of record.
d. The starting pitcher shall be charged with the loss if he is replaced at any time while his
team is behind and remains behind for the remainder of the game. Similarly, any relief
pitcher who is the pitcher of record when the opposing team assumes the lead and never
relinquishes it is charged with the loss.
Note—The pitcher of record shall be the one who is in the game at the time the winning team gains the lead, pro-
vided that the lead never is relinquished, or the one who is charged with the runs by which the opposing team
takes the lead, provided that the lead never is relinquished.
e. To receive credit for a shutout, the pitcher must pitch the entire game or enter the game
with no outs in the first inning and pitch the rest of the game without any runs scoring.
SAVE
SECTION 26. If a relief pitcher meets ALL of the following conditions, the official scorer
should credit that pitcher with a save:
a. He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his team;
b. He is not credited with the win, and
c. He meets one of the following conditions:
(1) He enters the game with a lead of not more than three runs and pitches at least one
inning;
(2) He enters the game with the potential tying run on base, at bat or on deck, or
(3) He pitches effectively for at least three innings.
Note—No more than one save may be credited in each game.
PROVING BOX SCORE
SECTION 27. To prove a box score, the total of the team’s plate appearances (times at bat,
bases on balls, hit batters, sacrifice bunts, sacrifice flies and batters awarded first base
because of the interference or obstruction) must equal the total of the team’s runs, players
left on base and the opposing team’s putouts.
CALLED/FORFEITED GAME AND NO CONTEST
SECTION 28. a. If a regulation game is called, include the record of all individual and team
actions up to the moment the game ends as specified in Rule 5-7-b.
A.R. 1—If the scoring during an incomplete inning has no bearing on the outcome of the contest, include all
individual and team records.
A.R. 2—If it is a tie game, do not enter a winning or losing pitcher.
b. If a regulation game is forfeited, include the record of all individual and team actions up
to the time of the forfeit. If the winning team by forfeit is ahead at the time of forfeit,
enter as winning and losing pitchers the players who would have qualified if the game
had been called at the time of forfeit. If the winning team by forfeit is behind or the score
is tied at the time of the forfeit, do not enter a winning or losing pitcher. If a game is for-
feited before it becomes a regulation game, include no records. Report only the fact of
the forfeit.
Note—If the team awarded the forfeit was tied or behind at the time of the forfeit, the score shall be recorded as 9-
0 for a scheduled nine-inning game and 7-0 for a scheduled seven-inning game. The word “forfeit” should accom-
pany this score.