Does college softball have a mercy rule?

One of the greatest things about college softball is seeing offenses explode for a ton of runs. But is there a mercy rule in effect for NCAA softball?

Because of the nature of the sport, college softball often features a regular barrage of home runs for fans to be able to enjoy. It’s not always that way, but it’s not uncommon to see a ton of runs get scored in a game as a result.

But, what happens if one team builds an absurdly large lead? How does the NCAA handle some of that? Is there a mercy rule in college softball?

Can you get run-ruled in college softball?

Teams can absolutely get run-ruled and the mercy rule is actually used fairly frequently in the sport. There are a number of absolute powerhouses that can go on some very impressive scoring runs to end a game a good bit earlier than it normally would have been scheduled to come to a conclusion.

What is the “eight-run rule” in NCAA softball?

According to the NCAA, the “eight-run rule” can put an end to a game if one team is leading the other after at least five equal innings. The game must go through complete innings unless it’s the home team that reaches an eight-run lead while batting. So, a home team could end a game after four-and-a-half innings if there is a hit that results in an eight-run lead for the home team.

The 2021 Oklahoma Sooners softball team had an unreal 56-4 record by the time the season came to an end. Of those 56 wins Oklahoma had, the Sooners won 38 of them in games that were shortened thanks to the mercy rule that is in effect.

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