College baseball games can be exhilarating nail-biters — or complete blowouts. To avoid extending out lopsided contests, many conferences have implemented a “mercy rule,” sometimes known as the 10-run rule.
But how does it operate, and why doesn’t the NCAA enforce it during national tournaments?
Mercy Rule in College Baseball: What It Is and How It Works
In collegiate baseball, the “mercy rule,” often known as the “run rule,” is a rule that permits a game to be called early if one team has a considerable advantage over the other. This regulation is intended to prevent extended mismatches and preserve player energy.
The implementation of the mercy rule varies across different college baseball conferences:
- SEC: In 2023, the SEC implemented a 10-run rule for conference games. If a side leads by 10 or more runs after seven innings, the game ends early. This regulation was previously only applicable during the SEC tournament, but it was incorporated into regular-season conference play in 2023.
- ACC: Following the SEC’s lead, the ACC implemented a similar 10-run mercy rule during the 2024 season.
It’s worth noting that the NCAA does not apply a mercy rule during the Division I Baseball Tournament or the College World Series. Games in these stages continue for the whole nine innings, regardless of the score.
For example, in the 2023 College World Series finals, Florida trounced LSU 24-4 in Game 2 before LSU answered with an 18-4 victory in Game 3. These lopsided results underscore the absence of a mercy rule at the national championship level.
The mercy rule has been used in multiple conference games. For example, on April 3, 2025, West Virginia University used the mercy rule to win 11-1 over Pitt at the Backyard Brawl, with the game concluding in eight innings.
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While the mercy rule is widely used in several college baseball conferences to maintain fair and efficient play, it is not routinely adopted at all levels of NCAA baseball. Understanding the specific rules of each conference is essential for players, coaches, and fans.
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