One of the most common topics of discussion aboutcollege baseballandsoftballhas been the pace of play in both sports. One way college baseball andsoftballhave worked at improving pace of play has been the implementation of a pitch clock. But that isn't the only way both sports have worked at speeding up the game. Another rule that has shortened games and saved pitchers' arms would be the run-ahead rule — commonly known as the "mercy rule" — that can go into effect starting in the fifth inning if a team is well ahead in the game. REQUIRED READING:Who's in Super Regionals? Updated bracket, schedule for NCAA softball tournament In the regional round of the NCAA softball tournament, the run rule went into effect in 37 of the 101 total games played over the three days. Four-time reigning national champion Oklahoma won each of its three games in the Norman Regional by run rule, as the Sooners scored 31 total runs in that span. Here's what you need to know about the run rule in college softball as the 2025 NCAA softball tournament continues on with the super regionals and then the Women's College World Series: Yes, college softball has a run rule, or a mercy rule, that can be applied during a game if the score warrants it. According to theNCAA,a team must lead by eight or more runs after five or more innings — or, in the case of the home team, 4 1/2 innings — for the run rule to go into effect. If the home team is in jeopardy of being run-ruled, however, that team does have the opportunity to score to avoid the mercy rule in the bottom half of the inning. More from Rule 6.14 of the2024 and 2025 NCAA Softball Rule Book: "A regulation eight-run-rule game shall be declared by the plate umpire if one team is ahead by eight or more runs after five or more equal innings. Complete innings must be played unless the home team reaches the eight-run lead while at bat in the last inning. Any hit that results in an eight-run lead by the home team (after 4 1/2 innings) is treated as a game-ending hit." Yes, asconfirmed by the NCAA's 2024-25 pre-championship manual, there is, in fact, a run rule once again in the Women's College World Series, which is held annually in Oklahoma City at Devon Park. There is no difference in the run rule for a WCWS than a regular season game or a game in the regional and super regional rounds of the NCAA softball tournament. As previouslyreported by The Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network, the run rule didn't get added to the WCWS format and rulebook until the 2023 WCWS championship series between Oklahoma and Texas. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:College softball run rule, explained: How WCWS games can end early
