There was a recent 9 inning college baseball game that was played with a set rotation for the pitching staff. The starter went 2 innings, the next pitcher went 2, the next pitcher went 3, the last two pitchers went an inning a piece. The official scorer at the school gave the win to the starter since the pitching rotation was preset before the game began. I looked all over for the ruling on this, but couldn't find anything. Does anyone know about this rule? I thought the starter had to go 5 regardless.

Thanks for the help!!

Unless the game is shortened, the starter must go 5 innings to get the win.

I believe they relax this rule for All-Star games and perhaps spring training as well, but don't know the particulars.

Were there any lead changes during the game?

If the starter doesn't go 5, then (assuming there weren't any lead changes), I've heard a guideline of "most effective pitcher" during the game gets the win. I don't know how that can be applied by an official scorer though.

In NCAA, the rule is something like, "if it is predetermined that 3 or more pitchers will be used, then the starter need not go 5 innings to get the win." It's a "scoring rule", so I'm not going to go look it up, but it is available on line.

NCAA:

"By prearrangement, if three or more pitchers are to be used, the pitcher of record shall be considered the winning pitcher".

Bob