Pitched Ball hits dirt then batter: Hit by Pitch?

[Rich Ives]

Print this and have your UIC review it with his staff. Do NOT do it yourself and don't even think of doing it during a game.

Official Baseball Rules

Rule 2.00

"A BALL is a pitch which does not enter the strike zone in flight and is not struck at by the batter.
If the pitch touches the ground and bounces through the strike zone it is a "ball." If such a pitch touches the batter, he shall be awarded first base. If the batter swings at such a pitch after two strikes, the ball cannot be caught, for the purposes of Rule 6.05 (c) and 6.09 (b). If the batter hits such a pitch, the ensuing action shall be the same as if he hit the ball in flight."

"IN FLIGHT describes a batted, thrown, or pitched ball which has not yet touched the ground or some object other than a fielder."