In a forced base scenario with two runners sharing a base, which runner is out when both are tagged?

• A. The runner who is forced to advance shall be declared out.
• B. The following runner shall be declared out.
• C. Both runners are out.
• D. Neither runner is out.

Answer: (A)

When a base is forced, runners must advance to the next base as required by the force play. If two runners would end up on the same base, only one can remain there. The rule says the runner who is forced to advance to that base, while it is already occupied by another runner, is the one declared out. The other runner remains safe because they were not the one compelled to occupy that base.

So in this scenario, the runner who is obligated to move to the base that is currently occupied is the one out. The other runner, who isn’t the one forced into that occupied base, stays on base or advances accordingly. This is why the correct answer is that the forced-to-advance runner is out.