All references to “box score” refer to the Ocial NCAA Baseball
Box Score. All information in the game summary refers to the
Ocial NCAA Baseball Scorebook.
SECTION 1OFFICIAL SCORER’S DUTIES
a. The home team, conference commissioner or tournament
director shall appoint an ocial scorer before each game. The
scorer shall have sole authority to make all decisions involving
judgment. He shall communicate such decisions to both teams
and all members of the news media present.
b. The ocial scorer should sit in the press box or stands (if
no press box) and not near or in a dugout.
c. The ocial scorer shall exercise his function based on the
following:
(1) To achieve uniformity in keeping the records of collegiate
games, the scorer shall conform strictly to the NCAA
Baseball Rules. The scorer shall have authority to rule on
any point not covered specically in these rules;
(2) If the teams change sides before three outs are made,
the scorer immediately shall inform the umpire of the
mistake;
(3) If the game is protested or halted, the scorer shall make
note of the exact situation at that time, including the
score, number of outs, position of any runners and the
count on the batter;
Note: It is important that a halted game resume with exactly
the same situation as existed at the time of suspension.
If a protested game is ordered replayed from the point of
protest, it must be resumed with exactly the situation that
existed before the protested play.
(4) The scorer shall not make any decision that conicts with
the NCAA Baseball Rules or an umpire’s decision, and
(5) The scorer shall not call the attention of the umpire or
any member of either team to the fact that a player is
batting out of turn.
SECTION 2BATTING RECORD
Each player’s batting record shall include:
a. In columns 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the box score, the number of
times he batted, the runs he scored, the base hits he made and
the runs batted in he was credited with. The batter is charged
with an ocial time at bat whenever he completes his turn, un-
less he has been awarded rst base as in 8-2-b, d or e, or he has
been credited with a sacrice (10-8). In columns 5 and 6, the
number of bases on balls and strikeouts credited to the batter
shall be recorded, and
Note: An ocial time at bat shall not be charged against a
player when he hits a sacrice bunt or sacrice y, is awarded a
base on balls, is hit by a pitched ball or is awarded rst base be-
cause of interference or obstruction.
b. In the summary, the number of extra-base hits (10-6), sac-
rice hits, sacrice ies and stolen bases.
SECTION 3BATTING OUT OF TURN
If a player bats out of turn and is put out, and the proper
batter is called out before the ball is pitched to the next bat-
ter, charge the proper batter with a time at bat and score the
putout and any assists the same as if the correct batting order
had been followed. If an improper batter becomes a runner and
the proper batter is called out for having missed his turn at bat,
charge the proper batter with a time at bat, credit the putout to
the catcher and ignore everything entering into the improper
batter’s safe arrival on base. If more than one batter bats out of
turn in succession, score all plays just as they occur, skipping
the turn at bat of the player or players who rst missed batting
in the proper order.
SECTION 4BASE HIT
A base hit is credited when a batter advances to rst base
safely:
a. Because of his fair hit (rather than because of a elder’s
error as in 10-16);
Exception—It is not a base hit if any runner is out on a force
play caused by the batter advancing toward rst base or would
have been forced out except for a elding error.
b. Because a runner is declared out for being hit by a batted
ball as in 8-5-k or the umpire is hit by a batted ball as in 8-3-c;
c. When a elder attempts to put out a preceding runner but
is unsuccessful although there is no elding error, and the of-
cial scorer believes the batter-runner would have reached rst
base with perfect elding;
d. When a batter reaches rst base safely on a fair ball hit with
such force, or so slowly, that any elder attempting to make a
play has no opportunity to do so. A hit shall be scored even if
the elder deects the ball from or cuts o another elder who
could have put out a runner;
e. When a fair ball that has not been touched by a elder
touches a runner or an umpire; or
Exception—It is not a base hit when a runner is called out for
having been touched by an ineld y.
f. When a batter reaches rst base safely on a fair ball that
takes an unnatural bounce so that a elder cannot handle it
with ordinary eort, or that touches the pitcher’s rubber or any
base (including home plate) before being touched by a elder
and bounces so that a elder cannot handle it with ordinary
eort.
Note: In applying the above rules, always give the batter the
benet of the doubt. A safe course to follow is to score a hit when
exceptionally good elding fails to result in a putout.
SECTION 5FIELDER’S CHOICE
This term is used by the ocial scorer to account for the fol-
lowing situations (the batter shall be charged with an ocial
time at bat but no hit in all such situations):
a. When a batter-runner advances one or more bases while
a elder who handles a fair hit attempts to put out a preceding
runner;
b. When a runner advances (other than by a stolen base or
error) while a elder is attempting to put out another runner;
c. When a runner advances solely because of the defensive
team’s indierence (undefended steal); or
d. When a batter apparently hits safely and a runner who
is forced to advance by reason of the batter becoming a run-
ner fails to touch the rst base to which he is advancing and is
called out on appeal.
SECTION 6EXTRABASE HIT
a. A base hit for extra bases is credited to the batter when it
is the sole reason for his safe arrival at a base beyond rst. Any
fairly batted ball that clears in ight an outeld fence in fair ter-
ritory, even though it may be deected by a elder, is a home
run, subject to local ground rules.
b. When, with one or more runners on base, the batter ad-
vances more than one base on a safe hit and the defensive
team makes an attempt to put out a preceding runner, the
scorer shall determine whether the batter made a legitimate
Official Baseball Statistics Rules
Extracted in entirety from Rule 10 in NCAA Baseball Rules and Interpretations Book
two-base hit or three-base hit, or whether he advanced beyond
rst base on the elder’s choice.
Note: Do not credit the batter with a three-base hit when a
preceding runner is put out at the plate, or would have been out
but for an error. Do not credit the batter with a two-base hit when
a preceding runner trying to advance from rst base is put out at
third base, or would have been out but for an error.
c. If a batter overruns second or third base and is tagged
out trying to return, he shall be credited with the last base he
touched.
Exception—If put out while oversliding second or third base,
he is not credited with reaching such base.
SECTION 7GAMEENDING HIT
When a batter ends a game with a hit that drives in as many
runs as are necessary to win the game, credit him with only as
many bases on his hit as the runner who scores the winning
run advances, and then only if the batter runs out his hit for
as many bases as are advanced by the runner who scores the
winning run.
Exception—If the batted ball clears an outeld fence in fair
territory, the batter shall be credited with a home run.
SECTION 8SACRIFICE
A sacrice bunt is credited to the batter when, with fewer
than two outs, his bunt enables a runner to advance, provided
no other runner is put out attempting to advance. A sacrice y
is credited when, with fewer than two outs, his y, fair or foul,
enables a runner to score. In either case, the sacrice ruling ap-
plies when the batter is put out before he reaches rst base or
would have been put out if the ball had been elded without
error.
Exception—If, in the judgment of the ocial scorer, the batter
is bunting primarily for a base hit, do not score a sacrice. Instead,
charge the batter with a time at bat.
SECTION 9RUN BATTED IN
A run batted in is credited to the batter when a runner scores
because of: A base hit (including batter scoring on a home run);
a sacrice bunt or sacrice y; any putout; a forced advance,
such as a base on balls or batter being hit by a pitch; or an error,
provided there are fewer than two outs and the action is such
that the runner on third base would have scored even if there
had been no error.
Scorer’s judgment must determine whether a run batted in
shall be credited for a run that scores when a elder holds the
ball or throws to the wrong base. Ordinarily, if the runner keeps
going, credit a run batted in; if the runner stops and takes o
again when he notices the misplay, credit the run as scored on
a elder’s choice.
Exception—It is not a run batted in if there is a double play
from a force or one in which the batter is or should have been put
out at rst base.
SECTION 10SUBSTITUTE BATTER
When a batter leaves the game with two strikes on him, and
a substitute batter strikes out, charge the strikeout to the rst
batter. If a substitute batter completes the turn at bat in any
other manner, including a base on balls, charge the action to
the substitute batter.
SECTION 11STOLEN BASE
a. A stolen base shall be credited to the base runner when-
ever he advances a base unaided (such as by a base hit, elder’s
choice, putout, error, balk, base on balls, wild pitch or passed
ball). A stolen base shall be credited when a runner starts for
the next base before the pitcher delivers the ball and the pitch
results in what would otherwise be scored a passed ball or a
wild pitch.
Exceptions—
(1) Where any runner is thrown out on an attempted double or
triple steal, no runner shall be credited with a stolen base.
Note: On a double-steal attempt with runners on rst and third
bases, if there is a legitimate attempt by the elder to retire
the runner at second base and the runner is safe, that run-
ner shall be credited with a stolen base even if the runner
from third is thrown out at home on a continuous play.
(2) If a base runner is tagged out while oversliding a base, he
shall not be credited with a stolen base.
(3) No stolen base shall be credited to a runner whose advance
is the result of the opposing team’s indierence.
(4) When a elder catches a throw in time to tag a runner who
is attempting to steal, but fails to hold the ball or fails to tag
the runner, the elder is charged with an error and the run-
ner is charged as caught stealing. An assist should be cred-
ited to the elder who made the throw.
b. Caught stealing shall be charged to the base runner
whenever he is put out in the following situations:
(1) When he attempts to steal;
(2) When he is picked o a base and tries to advance; or
(3) When he overslides while stealing.
Note: Do not charge caught stealing unless the runner has
an opportunity to be credited with a stolen base when the play
starts.
SECTION 12FIELDING RECORD
Each player’s elding record shall include:
a. In columns 7 and 8 of the box score, the number of times
he put out a runner and the number of times he assisted a
teammate in putting out a runner, and
b. In the summary, the number of errors and passed balls he
committed.
SECTION 13PUTOUT
A putout is credited to a elder who catches a batted ball in
ight, tags out a runner or puts out a runner by holding the ball
while touching a base to which a runner is forced to advance
or return. When a batter strikes out, a putout is credited to the
catcher, unless the catcher fails to eld the pitch cleanly and
must put the batter-runner out at rst base.
Exceptions—
(1) When a batter is called out for an illegally batted ball, for a
foul third-strike bunt, for being hit by his own batted ball,
for interference with the catcher or for failing to bat in his
proper turn, the putout shall be credited to the catcher.
(2) When a batter is declared out on an ineld y that is not
caught, the putout is credited to the elder who is nearest
the ball at the time.
(3) When a base runner is out because of being hit by a fairly
batted ball, the putout shall be credited to the elder near-
est the ball at the time.
(4) When a runner is called out for running out of the base line
to avoid being tagged, the putout shall be credited to the
elder whom the runner avoided.
(5) When a runner is called out for passing another runner, the
putout shall be credited to the elder nearest the point of
passing.
(6) When a runner is called out for running the bases in reverse
order, the putout shall be credited to the elder covering the
base he left in starting his reverse run.
(7) When a runner is called out for interfering with a elder, the
putout shall be credited to the elder with whom the runner
interfered, unless the elder was in the act of throwing the
ball when the interference occurred. In that case, the putout
shall be credited to the elder for whom the throw was in-
tended; the elder whose throw was interfered with shall be
credited with an assist.
(8) When a batter-runner is called out because of interference
by a preceding runner, the putout shall be credited to the
rst baseman. If the elder interfered with, was in the act of
throwing the ball, he shall be credited with an assist. In no
case can he be credited with more than one assist on any
one play.
SECTION 14ASSIST
a. An assist is credited to a elder when he handles or ef-
fectively deects the ball during action that is connected with
a putout or he handles the ball before an error that prevents
what would have been a putout. If several elders handle the
ball or one elder handles it more than once during a play, only
one assist is credited to each of such elders.
b. Do not credit the pitcher with an assist on a strikeout or
when after a pitch the catcher tags out or throws out a runner.
Note: A play that follows a misplay (whether or not it is an er-
ror) is a new play, and the elder making any misplay shall not be
credited with an assist unless he takes part in the new play.
SECTION 15DOUBLE PLAY / TRIPLE PLAY
A double play or triple play is credited to one or more elders
when two or three players are put out between the time a pitch
is delivered and the time the ball next becomes dead or is next
in possession of the pitcher in his pitching position.
Exception—When an error or a misplay occurs between the
time one player is put out and the time a second player is put out,
a double play or triple play is not credited.
Note: Also credit a double play or triple play if an appeal play
after the ball is in possession of the pitcher results in an additional
putout.
SECTION 16ERROR
a. An error is charged against any elder (pitchers included)
for each misplay that prolongs the time at bat of the batter or
the time as a runner of a base runner or permits a runner to
advance one or more bases.
Note 1: Slow handling of the ball that does not involve me-
chanical misplay shall not be construed as an error.
Note 2: It is not necessary that the elder touch the ball to be
charged with an error. If a ground ball goes through a elder’s
legs or a pop y falls untouched and, in the scorer’s judgment, the
elder could have handled the ball with ordinary eort, an error
should be charged.
Note 3: Mental mistakes or misjudgments are not to be scored
as errors unless specically covered in the rules.
b. An error shall be charged against any elder when he
catches a thrown ball or a ground ball in time to put out any
runner on a force play and fails to tag the base or the runner,
including a batter-runner on a play at rst base.
c. An error shall be charged against any elder whose throw
takes an unnatural bounce, touches a base or the pitcher’s rub-
ber, or touches a runner, a elder or an umpire, thereby permit-
ting any runner to advance. Apply this rule even when it appears
to be an injustice to a elder whose throw was accurate. Every
base advanced by a runner must be accounted for.
d. Charge only one error on any wild throw, regardless of the
number of bases advanced by runners.
e. An error shall be charged against any elder whose failure
to stop, or try to stop, an accurately thrown ball permits a run-
ner to advance, providing there was occasion for the throw. If,
in the scorer’s judgment, there was no occasion for the throw,
an error shall be charged to the elder who threw the ball.
Exceptions—
(1) A base on balls, a base awarded to a batter for being hit by
a pitched ball, a balk, a passed ball or a wild pitch shall not
be scored as an error.
(2) No error is charged to the catcher for a wild throw in an at-
tempt to prevent a stolen base unless the base runner ad-
vances an extra base because of a wild throw.
(3) No player is charged with an error for a poor throw in an
attempt to complete a double play unless the throw is so
wild that it permits a runner to advance an additional base.
However, if a player drops a thrown ball when by holding it
he would have completed a double play, it is an error.
(4) A elder is not charged with an error for accurately throw-
ing to a base whose baseman fails to stop or try to stop the
ball, provided there was good reason for such a throw. If the
runner advances because of the throw, the error is charged
to the baseman or elder who should have covered that
base.
(5) If a elder drops a y ball or fumbles a ground ball, but re-
covers the ball in time to force a runner, he is not charged
with an error.
(6) No error shall be charged against any elder who permits a
foul y to fall safely with a runner on third base and fewer
than two outs if, in the judgment of the ocial scorer, the
elder deliberately allows the ball to fall in order to prevent
the runner on third from scoring after a catch.
f. When an umpire awards the batter or any runner or run-
ners one or more bases because of interference or obstruction,
charge the elder who committed the interference or obstruc-
tion with one error, no matter how many bases the batter, run-
ner or runners, may be advanced.
Note: Do not charge an error if obstruction does not change
the play in the opinion of the scorer.
SECTION 17PASSED BALL
A passed ball is a pitch the catcher fails to stop or control
when he should have been able to do so with ordinary eort
and on which a runner (other than the batter) is able to ad-
vance. When a passed ball occurs on a third strike, permitting a
batter to reach rst base, score a strikeout and a passed ball.
SECTION 18FIELDER’S CHOICE
A elder’s choice is the action of a elder who handles a fairly
batted ball and, instead of throwing to rst base to put out the
batter-runner, throws to another base in an attempt to put out
a preceding runner.
SECTION 19PITCHING RECORD
Each pitcher’s record shall include in the summary: number
of innings pitched, base hits, runs, earned runs, bases on balls,
strikeouts, hit batters, wild pitches and balks.
Note: In computing innings pitched, count each putout as one-
third of an inning. If a starting pitcher is replaced with one out in
the sixth inning, credit that pitcher with 5-1/3 innings. If a start-
ing pitcher is replaced with no outs in the sixth inning, credit that
pitcher with ve innings, and make the notation that he faced a
specic number of batters in the sixth. If a relief pitcher retires two
batters and is replaced, credit that pitcher with two-thirds of an
inning pitched.
SECTION 20COMPLETE GAME
To receive credit for a complete game, the pitcher must pitch
the entire game.
SECTION 21WILD PITCH
A pitcher shall be charged with a wild pitch when a legal
pitch is such that a catcher cannot catch or control it with or-
dinary eort, so that the batter reaches rst base or any runner
advances one or more bases.
Note: Generally, a pitch that hits the ground before touching
the catcher’s glove is scored as a wild pitch.
SECTION 22EARNED RUN
a. An earned run shall be charged against a pitcher when a
runner scores because of a safe hit, sacrice hit, sacrice y, sto-
len base, putout, elder’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 pitch-
er the benet of the doubt in determining the advancement of run-
ners, 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 er-
ror by any other elder in computing 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 elder’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 pitch-
er shall not have the benet of errors made earlier in the inning.
Thus, he will be charged with earned runs for which he is totally
responsible.
SECTION 23STRIKEOUT
A strikeout is credited to the pitcher when a third strike is de-
livered to a batter, even if the third strike is a wild pitch or is not
caught or the batter reaches rst base. It also is a strikeout if an
attempted bunt on a third strike is a foul that is not caught.
SECTION 24GAME SUMMARY
The game summary should include all the items contained
in the Ocial NCAA Box Score, as shown later in this section.
SECTION 25WINNING AND LOSING PITCHERS
a. For all games of eight or more innings, a starting pitcher
must pitch at least ve 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 pitcher 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 pitch-
er 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 regula-
tions but pitches briey and ineectively, the scorer should not
credit him with a win. If a succeeding relief pitcher pitches eec-
tively and helps maintain the lead, the scorer should award the
win to that succeeding pitcher.
(2) By prearrangement, if three or more pitchers are to be
used, the pitcher of record shall be considered the win-
ning 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 be-
hind 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, provided 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 rst inning
and pitch the rest of the game without any runs scoring.
SECTION 26SAVE
If a relief pitcher meets ALL of the following conditions, the
ocial scorer should credit that pitcher with a save:
a. He is the nishing 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 eectively for at least three innings.
Note: Not more than one save may be credited in each game.
SECTION 27PROVING BOX SCORE
To prove a box score, the total of the team’s plate appear-
ances (times at bat, bases on balls, hit batters, sacrice bunts,
sacrice ies and batters awarded rst base because of interfer-
ence or obstruction) must equal the total of the team’s runs,
players left on base and the opposing team’s putouts.
SECTION 28CALLED/FORFEITED GAMES
AND NO CONTEST
a. If a regulation game is called, include the record of all in-
dividual and team actions up to the moment the game ends as
specied in Rule 5-8-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 quali-
ed 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 forfeited before it becomes a regulation game, include no re-
cords. 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 accompany this score.
c. When a team does not appear (e.g., due to weather condi-
tions, accidents, breakdown of vehicles, illness or catastrophic
causes), a forfeit is not recorded. An institution shall not, for
statistical purposes, declare a forfeit for nonfulllment of a con-
tract. Such instances shall be considered as “no contest.”
SECTION 29DETERMINING PERCENTAGES
The following procedures should be used to determine vari-
ous percentages:
a. To determine won-lost percentage, divide the total num-
ber of games played into the number of games won (each tie
game is computed as half won and half lost);
b. To determine batting averages, divide the number of of-
cial times at bat into the number of base hits;
c. To determine elding averages, divide the total chances
(putouts, assists and errors) into the total putouts and assists;
d. To determine a pitcher’s earned-run average, multiply the
earned runs allowed by nine and then divide by the number of
innings pitched;
Note: The statistician may choose to compute earned-run aver-
age by multiplying the earned runs allowed by 27 and then divid-
ing by the number of outs recorded (innings pitched times three).
Earned-run averages must be based on nine innings.
e. To determine slugging percentage, divide the number of
ocial times at bat into the number of total bases; and
Note: In all cases where the remaining decimal is one-half or
more, round to the next whole number.
f. To determine on-base percentage, divide the total number
of at-bats, bases on balls, hit by pitches and sacrice ies into
the total number of hits, bases on balls and hit by pitches.
Note: For the purpose of computing on-base percentage, ig-
nore being awarded rst base by interference or obstruction.
SECTION 30CUMULATIVE PERFORMANCE
RECORDS
a. A consecutive hitting streak shall not be terminated if the
plate appearance results in a base on balls, hit batsman, defen-
sive interference or a sacrice bunt. A sacrice y shall termi-
nate the streak.
b. A consecutive-games hitting streak shall not be terminat-
ed if all the player’s plate appearances (one or more) result in a
base on balls, hit batsman, defensive interference or sacrice
bunt. The streak shall terminate if the player has a sacrice y
and no hit.
c. A consecutive-games playing streak shall be extended if
the player plays one-half inning on defense, or if he completes
a time at bat by reaching base or being put out. A pinch-run-
ning appearance only shall not extend the streak. If a player is
ejected from a game by an umpire before he can comply with
the requirements of this rule, his streak shall continue.
d. For the purpose of this rule, all performances in the com-
pletion of a suspended or halted game shall be considered as
occurring on the original date of the game. All references to
“box score” refer to the Ocial NCAA Baseball Box Score. All
information in the game summary refers to the Ocial NCAA
Baseball Scorebook.
