What is the run rule in college baseball?

The run rule in college baseball, also known as the mercy rule, states that a game will end early if one team is ahead by a certain number of runs after a specific number of innings have been played. This rule is put in place to prevent blowout games from dragging on and becoming demoralizing for the losing team.

In NCAA Division I baseball, the mercy rule comes into effect when a team leads by 10 or more runs after seven innings of play. This means that the game will be declared over and the leading team will be declared the winner.

In NCAA Division II and III baseball, the run rule is usually set at 8 or 10 runs after a certain number of innings. The exact run rule and inning requirements can vary depending on the specific conference or tournament rules.

Overall, the run rule is designed to ensure that games do not become overly lopsided and to maintain the spirit of fair competition in college baseball.