How to Track Base Runners
Who is on base, force outs versus tag outs, and how runners advance
Knowing who is on base is the core of live game state. Runners on base are the difference between a quiet inning and a big one, and they change how every defense plays the next pitch.
Tracking runners comes down to two things: where each runner is, and whether the next out on them is a force or a tag.
Who is on base
A runner can occupy first, second, or third base. When all three are occupied, the bases are loaded. Tracking each runner is what lets you know the score of the next play before it happens.
Force outs versus tag outs
A force happens when the batter becoming a runner forces the runner ahead to give up their base. On a force, the defense only has to touch the base before the runner gets there, no tag needed.
When a runner is not forced, the defense must tag the runner with the ball to record the out. A runner on second with first base empty, for example, can only be put out by a tag.
How runners advance
- •On a hit: runners advance as far as the ball and their speed allow.
- •On a walk or hit by pitch: the batter takes first, and any runner who is forced moves up one base.
- •On a wild pitch or passed ball: runners may try to advance at their own risk.
- •On a stolen base: a runner advances on the pitch without the ball being put in play.
- •On a ball in play: the batter-runner heads to first and forces runners ahead as needed.
When a runner scores
A runner who reaches home plate before the third out and without being put out scores a run. That run goes straight into the R column.
Tracking runners on the Dugout Edge Game Day board
The board shows the diamond so you can see the base state at a glance.
- 1
When a batter reaches base, place the runner on the base they reached.
- 2
As play develops, advance each runner to the base they take.
- 3
When a runner is put out, remove them from the diamond and mark the out.
- 4
When a runner reaches home, score the run and clear them from the bases.
Softball
In most fastpitch softball, runners cannot lead off and must stay on the base until the pitch is released. This look-back rule limits leads but does not change how forces and tags work.
Track your game for free
The Dugout Edge Game Day board keeps the score, outs, runners, pitch count, and batting order in one place. No account needed, and it works right in your browser.
Open the free scorekeeperFrequently asked questions
When is a runner forced?
A runner is forced when the batter becomes a runner and there is no open base behind them. A runner on first is always forced when the ball is put in play, because the batter is heading to first.
Can a runner be forced at third base?
Yes, but only when first and second are both occupied. With runners on first and second, the runner on second is forced to third.
What happens to runners on a bases-loaded walk?
Every runner is forced to advance one base, so the runner on third is forced home and a run scores. The batter takes first.
Does a runner have to be tagged on a force play?
No. On a force, the defense only needs to touch the base ahead of the runner before the runner arrives.
Keep learning
Coming 2026
Score every game by hand. Digitally.
A digital scorecard that works the way you already keep score: pencil in the 6-4-3, advance the runner, mark the backwards K. The same notation you know by heart, with nothing to store in a closet and nothing lost to a rained-out dugout. Built for coaches and fans who love the craft of scoring a game by hand. Launching in 2026. Join the waitlist and we will send early access the week it goes live.
Want to see it in context? Read what the digital scorekeeper does.