College baseball games are normally nine innings long, as defined by the NCAA. However, the number of innings played may vary depending on the conditions.
Everything You Need To Know About Innings in College Baseball
When teams schedule doubleheaders (two games on the same day), the NCAA allows changes to the traditional nine-inning format. According to the NCAA 2023 and 2024 Rules Book, doubleheaders can be organized as follows:
- Two nine-inning games
- One nine-inning game followed by a seven-inning game
- Two seven-inning games.
This helps manage player exhaustion and logistical concerns while playing multiple games in a single day.
Another scenario that can shorten a college baseball game is the use of the 10-run rule, sometimes known as the mercy rule. A game may be called after seven innings if one side leads by at least 10 runs, according to conference rules or the mutual consent of both coaches before the game.
This rule is intended to prevent excessively protracted games when the result is clear.
If a game is tied after the scheduled innings, extra innings are played to decide the winner. There is no defined number of extra innings; play continues until one team has a lead at the end of an inning.
Notably, the longest recorded collegiate baseball game lasted 25 innings, demonstrating the sport’s commitment to settling ties through extended play.
Bad weather can also affect the duration of a collegiate baseball game. If at least five innings have been completed and conditions inhibit further play, the game may be deemed official, with the leading team declared the winner. If fewer than five innings are played, the game is usually rescheduled.
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During the 2023 season, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved changes to the 20-second action clock with runners on base to boost the speed of play.
Pitchers must now begin their motion inside this timeframe to avoid a clock violation, with specified exceptions for step-offs and pickoff attempts. These modifications are intended to facilitate gaming and avoid unnecessary delays.
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