College baseball game! R3 is running from third to home. Home PLate umpire was covering third in anticipation of play being there. (2 man crew) He is running back the the plate as he is running r3 brushes agaist plate umpire. Runner is out by 3-4 steps. Initial call is runner out. Then umpires get together and rule umpire interferance. Runner was placed back on third. Team ends up going to score several runs.

It was the correct call. The batter is awarded a hit. All other runners must return to their original bases unless forced to the next base by awarding the batter first. The umpire is only part of the field after there isn't an opportunity to make a play.

Need more information. Where was the ball hit? When did the plate umpire head down towards 3rd? The umpires must've judged that the PU held up the runner so that he could not make it home before the throw.

We have all the information we need. It may not seem fair, but.......

There are only two situations in which an umpire can interfere.

1) The plate umpire interferes with the catcher’s attempt to throw anywhere; (NCAA 6-3a) [Ball is dead and runner return.]

2) "a fair-hit ball touches an umpire before touching a fielder and before passing all infielders, other than the pitcher" (NCAA 6-2f). [Ball is dead, batter awarded first, forced runners advance.]

I've given the NCAA rule references, but all codes treat it the same way.

Neither situation applies here, and it looks like the umpires made up a rule.

Listen to 3finger. It sounds like the PU overhustled and went to third too soon. Where were the runners to begin with? You said R3 so that means that is where he started.
Where else were there runners? It sounds like first and third and a ball hit to the outfield. This would be the only reason to go up the line. He should go partway up the line and read the play, called the library by many, then if he thinks there is going to be a play at third then he goes to the cutout and calls the play. If the ball gets away from the F5 then the PU comes down the line in fair and calls the plate from there.
As 3finger says this doesn't fit either definition of umpire interference. It doesn't matter if the umpire knocks him down, it's nothing. Ask the umpire in the Superregional a couple of years ago that did exactly that.

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
It was the correct call.

What?

Did the umpire interfere with F2's throw? No?

Did he get with a batted ball before it passed the infielders? No?

No umpire interference.

MST

I had a play the other day(I might have "overhustled") First and third ball hit to the gap in left center I came up the line 1/3 and the runner came into third as the SS(cutoff) bobbled the ball. The runner turns for home and so do I AND I take a nasty fall on mt a!$ my glasses go flying and the throw goes to the plate. My partner does not back me up. I get up in time to punch the runner out at home on a pretty close play. Pretty funny situation BUT a nasty bruise on my tailbone.