Every term you'll see in a Rundown situation, explained plainly. Tap anywhere outside to close.
Runners & bases
- R1 · R2 · R3
- Runner on 1st / 2nd / 3rd base.
- Bases loaded
- Runners on all three bases.
- Tag up
- On a fly ball, the runner touches her base after the catch, then tries to advance.
- Leadoff
- How far a runner stands off her base before the pitch. Bigger in baseball; softball requires runner to stay on the base until the pitcher releases.
Fielder number notation
- 1 · Pitcher
- P
- 2 · Catcher
- C
- 3 · First base
- 1B
- 4 · Second base
- 2B
- 5 · Third base
- 3B
- 6 · Shortstop
- SS
- 7 · Left field
- LF
- 8 · Center field
- CF
- 9 · Right field
- RF
So a 6-4-3 DP = SS throws to 2B covering 2nd, 2B fires to 1B. Double play.
Defense
- Cutoff
- An infielder positioned between an outfielder and the target base to intercept and redirect the throw if needed.
- Relay
- On long throws from deep outfield, an infielder goes out to meet the throw and relays it to the base.
- Backing up
- A fielder positioning behind another fielder in case a throw or ball gets past.
- Infield fly rule
- With runners on 1st+2nd (or bases loaded) and less than 2 outs, the umpire calls the batter out on a catchable infield pop-up — so the defense can't drop it and turn a double play.
- Rundown (pickle)
- A runner caught between bases. Defense runs her back to the previous base with the fewest throws possible.
Offense
- RHB · LHB
- Right-handed batter / Left-handed batter. Affects which middle infielder covers 2nd on a steal.
- Sacrifice bunt
- Batter bunts expecting to get thrown out so the runner can advance.
- Squeeze
- Runner on 3rd breaks for home while the batter bunts. Suicide squeeze = she's already going.
- Steal
- Runner advances on the pitch without the ball being hit.
- Double steal
- Two runners advance at the same time.
Softball-specific
- Slapper
- Left-handed hitter who starts moving toward 1st while swinging. Slap contact creates tough infield plays.
- Leaving early
- A softball runner cannot leave the base until the pitcher releases the ball. Leaving early = out.
Baseball-specific
- Pickoff
- Pitcher throws to a base to catch a runner who's leading off too far.
- Dropped 3rd strike
- If catcher doesn't cleanly catch strike 3, batter can try to reach 1st — when 1st base is open or with 2 outs.
- Balk
- Illegal pitcher motion that advances every runner one base.
Game state
- Infield in
- Fielders play shallower to try to cut down a run from 3rd base. Gives up range for speed home.
- Infield back
- Normal depth. Prioritizes the out, concedes the run from 3rd if needed.
- Hold the runner
- 1B stands on the bag to prevent a big lead.