2024 Kubota College Baseball Series - Weekend 2

NCAA Baseball Run Rule Explained. Here's When It's Used

NCAA Baseball Run Rule Explained. Here's When It's Used

Is there a college baseball run rule? Yes and no. Here's what to know.

Feb 24, 2024 by Joe Harrington
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NCAA Baseball doesn’t like to use the 7-inning run rule, but sometimes it has to be done. 

While college baseball will encourage teams to play as many 9-inning games as possible, the exception is often applied to non-conference games, showcases and tournaments,  the final game of a series and double-headers. 

Run rules are more common in softball, but here is what to know about the college baseball run rule. 

When Is the NCAA Baseball Run Rule Used?

Run rules can be applied in the seventh inning when one team leads by 10 or more runs. 

But it’s not always applied, like in the College World Series in 2023, when Florida led LSU 15-3 after seven innings. 

If the games is scheduled for seven innings, the run rule is applied in the fifth.  

College Base Run Rules Aren’t Usually Applied In Conference Games

Each conference has their own set of rules, but there is no set NCAA run rule, which is why they are generally used during non-conference games an preseason tournaments. 

Regular season conference games don't usually use the run-rule

What College Baseball Tournaments Are Streaming On FloBaseball?

These tournaments will stream on FloBaseball and the FloSports app in February and March:

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