Runners at 1st and 2nd, no outs.
Batter puts hard bunt down 1st baseline... 1st baseman fields... goes to tag batter/runner... batter stops (about 4 feet shy and stands there.... runners move up bases (1st baseman looks across field to look at runner that just got to 3rd) batter/runner sidesteps him, runs to 1st, firstbaseman turns to throw to secondbaseman covering - ball goes down line... runner from 3rd (origionally 2nd) scores... now runners on 2nd and 3rd zero outs...

defensive coach comes out to argue that the umpire should have called batter out once he stopped running (gave himslef up) and runners should go back to 2nd and 3rd, batter is out...

Oddly enough that is just what the umpire did... batter was never called out, ball was never ruled dead... playing straight American League Rules....

any input?

In my opinion, you got hosed. Batter/runner, by stopping, has not given up his rights as a baserunner, and did exactly what he should- make the 1Bman make a play. Running into the tag would have been the worst thing he could have done, and unfortunately, what you see the most. "Giving yourself up" is defined as either abandoning the basepath entirely; leaving the dirt area around home plate and heading in the direction of the dugout. Stopping is neither of these, it's just forcing the defense to make a play on you. Smart play, bad call.

Slugger is correct. Not only can the batter/runner stop, he can retreat if he wishes as long as he doesn't leave the base path (3 foot rule) to avoid the tag. Once he reaches the plate however, he would be out of room and declared out.

Unless your working USSSA softball, in which there is a National Interpretation that says the BR will be out for retreating towards HP.

I don't agree with the ruling but.

Anybody have any rulings on this for baseball.

Pilsner;
I have heard that a retreating BR would be called out for retreating to HP, but have never read anything to back it up.

jjk,
I can't cite any specific back-up info relative to OBR but for NFHS (Fed) Rules this situation is covered in the NFHS Case book on Page 60:

8.1.1 SITUATION A: With R1 on first base, B2 bunts to F3 who fields the ball on the first bounce near the foul line. B2 stops and reverses toward home to avoid being tagged out by F3, who then throws to F6 for a force out on R1, and the relay throw fails to retire B2 at first base. RULING: As long as B2 did not touch or run beyond home nor leave the base path to avoid a tag, the action is legal.