Missed base: opinions

[David Emerling]

I saw this play in an adult game played under NCAA rules. It got me thinking ...

PLAY #1: Bases loaded, 1 out. Grounder to F5. His throw short hops the catcher causing the ball to squirt away about 5 feet. R3 slides past and misses the plate. The runner attempts to crawl back to the plate but the catcher has retrieved the ball and he (the catcher) dives and tags the base with the ball before the runner could return.

RULING?

And this all made me think of another play ...

PLAY #2: R3, 2 outs. Batter hits a slow roller to F6. R3 was off on contact and there is no play on him at the plate. The throw to first is late but the BR misses the bag. The umpire rules him safe. But then, F3 with possession of the ball and his foot still on the bag says, "He missed the base."

Now what?

Does F3 have to tag the BR? In either case, does R3 score?

Would like to have some opinions on this. I don't really care about the NCAA ruling. You can answer it under any set of rules you like. I suspect they will all be the same anyway.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN