What is obstruction in college softball? Texas A&M wins challenge in NCAA regional vs Liberty

USA Today

19-05-2025

What is obstruction in college softball? Texas A&M wins challenge in NCAA regional vs Liberty
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Texas A&M is one win away from advancing in the NCAA softball tournament, and holding off from being on the wrong side of history.
But as the top-seeded Aggies currently work against Liberty in the Bryan-College Station Regional championship, one of college softball's judgment calls came into play: obstruction.
The call came in the bottom of the third inning after Texas A&M coach Trisha Ford called for her second challenge of the game on a play at third that involved her shortstop, Koko Wooley, and Liberty third baseman Rachel Craine.
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Wooley was originally called out at home plate on the play by the home plate umpire, as she was well out of the basepath during a rundown. The Aggies' center fielder attempted to turn a first-to-third play on a Mac Barbara single into a first-to-home play as the ball got away from two Liberty fielders at third. However, that was overturned by the Aggies' successful challenge, which placed her back at third base. She'd score on the very next play thanks to a single through the right side by first baseman Amari Harper.
A win against Liberty on Sunday would advance Texas A&M to the Super Regional of the NCAA softball tournament, where it would play the winner of No. 16 Oregon-Stanford from the Eugene Regional. The Aggies defeated the Flames earlier Sunday in Game 6 of the Bryan-College Station Regional to force Sunday night's Game 7.
Here's what you need to know on what is obstruction in college softball as it was called in the Texas A&M-Liberty game:
What is obstruction? Explaining college softball rule
As noted Rule 9.5 of the NCAA softball rulebook, obstruction is when a defensive player inserts themselves into the path of a runner and blocks that player away from attempting to reach that base safely.
More from Rule 9.5.1.1 of the NCAA rulebook:
"Obstruction occurs when a defensive player, neither in possession of the ball nor in the act of fielding a batted ball, impedes a batter's attempt to make contact with a pitch or impedes the progress of any runner who is legally running bases on a live ball. It can be intentional or unintentional."
Obstruction can also be called when a defensive player does not have possession of the ball when said fielder:
A. Blocks any part of the leading edge of first, second or third base or home plate (as defined); or
B. Otherwise blocks the runner from advancing or returning to a base.
All told, by rule, since Craine did not have possession of the ball at the time Wooley was beginning to reach third base and made contact with Wooley, there was obstruction called, though the call remains mired in controversy.