smart base running or an out ?

[Dakota]

I've had umpires argue that the runner is out in the situation for running more than 3 feet from the runner's base path to avoid a tag.

Their "reasoning" was that the runner's base path is a straight line from the position of the runner to the next base, so if they ran 3 feet or more backwards, they were out.

It's amazing what you find some umpires believe.