Baseball games governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) share many of the rules that govern professional baseball in the United States and abroad. However, college baseball does have a number of rules that are unique to the game played across all NCAA divisions.
Game Length
Standard collegiate games are nine innings in length, with each team allotted a total of 27 outs with which to work. However, in contrast to Major League Baseball (MLB) and international baseball games governed by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), collegiate baseball games may be shortened to seven innings. If teams play a doubleheader -- back-to-back games in a single day -- one or both games may be shortened to seven innings, depending upon the preferences of each team. Similarly, games can be shortened to seven innings for the last game of a series between two teams. Unlike professional baseball, collegiate baseball has a mercy rule which states that, if a team is losing by more than 10 runs after seven innings, the game may be ended. Adoption of this rule varies from conference to conference.
Equipment
In baseball governed by the NCAA, batters may use wood bats, aluminum bats, or composite bats. This is in contrast to MLB, which permits only wood bats. The regulation baseball used in college is identical to that used by professional. Its core must be made of rubber, cork, or a similar material, and the core must be wrapped by yarn. The surface of a baseball must be composed of cowhide or horsehide, tightly stitched with visible, raised seams, forming a ball that measures between 9 and 9 1/4 inches in circumference, and weighs between 5 and 5 1/4 ounces. Batters and base runners are required to wear a protective helmet made of a hard material, as is the catcher, who must wear a protective face mask as well.
Designated Hitter
The designated-hitter rule is in effect in collegiate baseball, and is adapted from the rule in use in the American League in MLB. This rule states that one player in the field may be substituted for in the batting order when the team comes to the plate. In college, however, the pitcher may serve as the designated hitter simultaneously, and may retain one position if removed from the other.
Interference
In college baseball, offensive players are ejected from the game if they intentionally try to obstruct a defensive player or interfere with their ability to make an out. If a player intentionally tries to slide into a defensive player to prevent a double play, an automatic double play can be called.
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