NCAA Rule Question - Appeal Play

[Durham]

Ok, on my iPhone so will copy and paste the rule later if need be, but I have a situation that I have argued for years. I will start by saying that I rule these situations the way that I have been told to, but I do not believe that the rule book supports them. This entire scenario is meant to see what others think and hopefully to prove me wrong and show me why in the NCAA rule book. The situations could vary, so I will just throw one of many out there.

R1 stealing on the pitch and B2 hits a ball into the right field gap. Think that the ball will be down R1 rounds 2nd and heads for 3rd when F8 makes a diving catch. F8 jumps to his feet and attempts to double off R1 at 1st. The throw is off the mark and goes into DBT. For ease sake, let's agree that the throw was just before R1 touched 2nd. The umpires call time and correctly award R1 3rd. R1 never retouched 1st, he touches 2nd and makes it to 3rd. Can the defense still appeal R1 leaving early?

Everyone I talk to says yes, but I disagree. The defense was appealing that R1 left early and he did. IMO, this is unmistakably an appeal play and an attempt to get him out before he can retouch. The defense also erred on the appeal. So why do we still let them appeal at 1st?

Thanks! Hope this makes us all think a little.