Why are some college baseball games 7 innings? Taking a look at the NCAA rule book

Each game in NCAA baseball features nine innings as the standard number of innings. However, there are certain instances where college baseball games only feature seven innings.

Here, we take a look at how the NCAA 2023 and 2024 Rules Book states which instances allow for games to go up to seven innings.

Why are some NCAA baseball games 7 innings?

It is clear that the NCAA encourages college baseball teams to play nine innings. However, there are provisions in the 2023 and 2024 Rules Book which allow for teams to play seven-inning games.

This is highlighted in Section 7 of Rule 5 - The Game - It's Beginning and Ending. This section pertains to doubleheaders, which means two particular teams play each other twice on the same day. These games, according to Section 8, can be scheduled for a doubleheader by conference rule or mutual agreement.

Part A of this section defines how teams can choose between playing seven-inning games and nine-inning games to play doubleheaders as follows:

"A doubleheader must include the same two teams and may be scheduled as two nine-inning games, a seven and a nine, or two seven-inning games. The first game of a doubleheader must be completed before the second game may start."

Examples 3 and 7 in this section reveal the specific instances in which seven-inning games will be considered as regulation games.

"Example 3—Team A plays two seven-inning games consecutively with Team B. Team C then plays Team D in two seven-inning games consecutively. Are these regulation games? Ruling: Yes."

"Example 7—Two teams have a doubleheader scheduled, the first game as a seven-inning game and the second as a nine-inning game. The second game is called due to rain or darkness. Is the first game that was completed a regulation game? Ruling: Yes. Both teams intended to play both games. By the doubleheader rules, a seven-inning game followed by a nine-inning game is legal. These teams should not be penalized due to rain or darkness."

Another instance of games lasting seven innings is when the Ten-Run rule comes into play. Section 79 of Rule 2 - Definitions defines the rule as follows:

"By conference rule, or mutual consent of both coaches before the contest, a game may be stopped only after seven innings if one team is ahead by at least 10 runs. Each team must play an equal number of innings unless shortened because the home team needs none or only part of its half of the final inning."

The game between the Florida Gators and the Kentucky Wildcats was clearly one-sided, with the Gators leading by a whopping 11 runs by the end of the sixth. However, the run rule does not apply in the Men's College World Series. This is why the game went on for all nine innings despite the Gators wrapping the game up early with their dominant hitting display.