Drop third strike with two outs.

[NorthAlaUmp]

Okay, I took SC Ump's idea and looked through the Case Book. 8.1.1, Situation A, addresses my earlier post with the statement that B/R should be declared out "if she entered dead-ball territory." I'll buy that ruling, but still take exception to writing a rule using a term (team area) that is not specifically defined when it could easily be done.

Y'all will have to excuse my legal training spilling over. If you have something specifically defined (dugout/bench), then use a different term (team area), it could mean something different. (In legal terms it's called "strict construction" and any ambiguity is construed most strictly against the person who drafted the provision.) If you don't want confusion, you use words that have been defined. Why don't they remove ambiguity by saying the B/R is out if she enters the dugout/bench, or at least include "team area" in the definition of dugout/bench? Just seems like sloppy rules writing to me.

Also, back to the orignal post by SC Ump, that same play in the case book says B/R would be out if "the half-inning ended because all infielders left the diamond." SC Ump, you said that the defense left the field. Did all the infielders leave the diamond before the B/R made 1st? If so, she should have been called out. This would also cover your hypotheticals: even though she never left live ball territory by going into the dugout/bench, she should have been declared out once the defense leaves the field. Call this "abandoning" her right to reach 1st or whatever you will, her chance expired with the end of the half-inning.