Safety base, muffed batted ball
 

ASA rules.

Sharp hit down the first base line in fair territory. F3 attempts to field it, touches it in fair territory just ahead of 1B, but slightly muffs the ball, gaining control in foul territory, again just in front of the base. F3 touches the orange bag before the runner touches the white bag.

Out?

Does 8-3-M-4 fit this scenario?

HTBT, but if coming from foul territory, the defense can use the orange base.

F3 was moving into foul territory to gain control of the ball, and after gloving the ball, touched the orange bag while continuing to move away from fair territory.

IOW, she was not yet coming back, but still moving more into foul territory, just jabbed at the orange bag with her foot after controlling the ball.

If the fielder was in foul territory ("F3 was moving into foul territory to gain control of the ball") when getting control, I would say the "foul side" exception applies. If the fielder was in fair and just the ball was in foul, then probably not.

Couldn't this be cleared up by extending 8.2.M-4 to say "On any force out attempt from the foul side of first base the defense and the batter-runner can use either the white or the colored portion?" (Italicized text is my addition - exactly the same as in 8.2.M-5.) It seems as though 8.2.M-4 is incomplete. Or am I missing something....again?