Rule or Term

Baseball

Fastpitch Softball

Length of Game

9 innings (7 in the high school level and in Minor League/college doubleheaders)

7 innings
(5 in certain college games)

Ball

9 inches (23 cm) in circumference

12 or 11 inches (30 or 28 cm) in circumference, less

dense than a baseball

Bat

no longer than 42 inches (106 cm)

no longer than 34 inches (86 cm)

Baselines

90 feet (27 m)

60 feet (18 m)

Outfield fence

Variable distance from home plate is mandatory in professional and university leagues and optional in youth leagues. Many youth leagues, such as Little League,
use a constant distance
from home plate.

Constant distance from home plate (maximum of 250 ft/76.2 m)

Pitching distance

60 feet, 6 inches (18.5 m)

Varies by level: 40 feet (12 m) (women's high school and amateur), 43 feet (13 m) (girls High School, women's college
and international)

Pitcher's mound

Yes

No, but 8 foot (2.5 m) circle
marked around pitcher's plate

Defensive players
in-field

nine

nine (before 1946, ten)

Extra player

Designated hitter may bat in place of a defensive player (pitcher in some levels) and removes the defensive player from the game if the

DH plays in the field.

Designated player may bat in place of a defensive player and removes the defensive player from the game
if the DP plays in the field.

Bunting

Allowed

Allowed

Foul ball with

two strikes

Batter is not out

unless bunting.

Batter is not out unless bunting.

Hit by pitch

Awarded first base unless swing or no attempt made
to avoid being hit.

Awarded first base unless
swing or attempt made
to intentionally be hit.

Base stealing

Allowed at any time the ball is live (i.e. when "Time"
is not called).

Allowed once the ball leaves the pitcher's hand; runners may not leave base if the pitcher has the
ball within the circle.

Taking a lead

from base

Same rules as for
base stealing.

Same rules as for base stealing.

Delivery

Any method; in practice,
usually overhand.

Underhand; no speed or
arc restrictions.

Illegal pitch

Most infractions punished as a balk: the ball is dead, no change made to the count on the batter and all runners on base advance. With no runners on base, for some infractions, the pitch attempt is
automatically a ball.

The ball remains live. If the batter reaches base successfully and all runners advance, no penalty; otherwise, the play is negated,the pitch attempt is automatically a ball and runners advance one base