Uncaught 3rd strike

[bellnier]

My DD and I were watching game the other night. The pitcher was dominating and the batter, with no prayer of ever hitting the ball, had two strikes on her. The next pitch slipped from the pitchers grip and flew several feet over the catchers outstretched glove for ball 1. My daughter turned to me and said "if she was smart she'd'a swung at that pitch and run to 1st on a dropped third strike". I've been away from softball so long now I'm unsure of the rule. Was my daughter right? Or does rule only apply to pitch that's actually in the strike zone. Thanks.