Here's why an Oregon softball runner was called out twice for leaving a base early

I'm really happy that the University of Oregon softball team is headed to the 2025 College Women's World Series after winning twice over Liberty this weekend in a super-regional matchup in Eugene.

But there were two plays in the first game on Friday that left both the announcers and me wondering, What the heck was that all about?

In each case, Kai Luschar, Oregon's lead off hitter who is noted for her speed and ability to steal bases, was called out after appearing to steal a base following a challenge by the Liberty head coach.

Here's a video that shows the first time Luschar was called out, which cost Oregon a run. I've set the highlights video to begin at the 2:50 mark, which is when the play begins; it ends at 3:50 when the umpire announces that Luschar is called out and the announcers say "What did we miss?"

Well, what they missed was a barely noticeable tiny jump Luschar took off the bag, after which her foot recontacted the bag before she started running to home base after a nicely performed squeeze bunt by a teammate. Here's a screenshot from the video that shows this:

This also appeared to be the reason she was called out later in the game at first base, as described in a story about the game.

For the second time in the NCAA Tournament, the Ducks faced a tied scoreline and a chance to walk it off in the bottom of the seventh.

But for the second time in this game, Liberty challenged a call that would’ve advanced Luschar. The umpires said once again that she left early and it was the third out, sending it to extra innings.

“We’re gonna look back on film and see what’s going on,” Luschar said. “It’ll be fixed tomorrow.”

Best I can understand, Ruschar was called out by the video replay officials because in collegiate softball a runner has to remain in contact with the base until the ball has left the pitcher's hand. In these two cases, Ruschar made her tiny jump before landing on the base and taking off for a steal.

Given the rule below, which I found in a post on X about the play, as soon as Ruschar lost contact with the base she was deemed out, even though the umpire on the field didn't notice her tiny jump each time she did it.