In a play where two runners are between the same two bases on an overthrow into dead-ball territory, which statement is correct?

• A. Both runners are awarded two bases.
• B. Both runners are awarded three bases.
• C. The lead runner is awarded two bases and the following runner is awarded one.
• D. The runner is returned to the base.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is how runners advance when an overthrow goes into dead-ball territory while two runners are between the same two bases. In that situation, the ball is dead, and the runners’ advancement is determined by their order on that base path. The lead runner—the one closer to the next base—receives two bases, while the following runner receives one base. This reflects the ahead runner gaining more ground because they are ahead on the base path when the play is stopped. So the correct description is that the lead runner advances two bases and the trailing runner advances one base.

Options that would have both runners advance two bases, or both three bases, don’t fit this rule, and simply returning a runner to a base isn’t how the ruling works when the ball becomes dead on an overthrow.