Baseball · Level 5: Upper-Intermediate · Sub-level 5.1
Situational Hitting
10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown
Situational hitting means changing an at-bat to suit the score, the outs and where the runners stand. The aim is not always a hit: sometimes a ground ball or a fly that brings a run home or moves a runner up does more for the team than a big swing.
With a runner on third and fewer than two out, contact matters most. A deep enough fly lets the runner tag and score, and a grounder against infielders playing deep usually gives the defence only the sure out at first while the run comes in; a strikeout never scores him. A drawn-in infield leaves holes for a hard ball or a high chop, but it can also cut the runner down on a routine grounder. With a runner on second, a ground ball to the right side lets him reach third while the throw goes to first behind him. With two outs everything changes: an out ends the inning, only hits score runs, and runners go as soon as the ball is hit. With the bases loaded, ball four forces a run home, a grand slam scores four, and a ground ball can give the defence two easy outs.
The facts below cover these situations, leading off an inning, facing a hard-throwing closer, pinch-hitting, the idea of a quality at-bat and building a late comeback.
Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.
Test 1Runner on third, fewer than two outTake a test
A ball in play can score the runner; a strikeout cannot.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
With the infielders deep, they usually take the sure out at first while the run scores.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A drawn-in infield leaves holes, but also cuts the runner down on routine grounders.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A deep enough fly lets the runner tag and score.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Low pitches produce grounders the drawn-in infield can turn into outs.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A groundout or fly that brings the run in still helps the team.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Contact puts the ball in play, which can score the run.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The infield takes the out at first and the run scores.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
The fly scores him easily, the grounder usually does, the strikeout never.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
A high chop over a drawn-in infield goes through for a hit.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 2Moving a runner overTake a test
A ground ball to the right side lets the runner reach third.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The throw goes to first, behind the runner, so he can move up.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Letting the outside pitch travel sends it the other way.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The hitter usually gives himself up for the extra base.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
From third, a fly, grounder or wild pitch can bring him in.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A hitter who can bring the runner home should swing for it.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Good bat control makes it easier to put the ball on the right side.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Move him over, then bring him in.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Right-side grounders move him; balls on the left side or pop-ups do not.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
The out is made at first while he takes third.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 3Hitting with two outsTake a test
With two outs, an out ends the inning, so only hits score runs.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
With two outs there is nothing to lose by running on contact.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Two-out hits keep innings alive and are often called valuable.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A walk brings the next hitter up with another chance.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
With nobody on and two out, a long hit is the main way to score.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Running on contact gives him a big head start.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Reaching base gives the next hitter a chance to drive in runs.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Running on contact lets him score on a single.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Extra bases first, then reaching base; an out ends the inning.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
With two outs he runs as soon as the ball is hit.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 4Hitting with the bases loadedTake a test
With every base full, ball four forces a run home.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A ground ball can give the defence two easy outs.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Caught deep, the fly still brings the man from third home.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A grand slam scores four runs.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A pitcher who cannot afford a walk often starts with a fastball.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A ball in play could score a run; a strikeout gives nothing.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Every runner is forced, so a throw home cuts off the run.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Home to first wipes out the run and the batter.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Four runs, two runs, then one.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
With fewer than two out, the catch is his signal to go.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 5Hitting against a drawn-in infieldTake a test
Fielders on the grass have less time and less range.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
On a routine grounder they can throw home in time.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Up close, a hard one-hopper gives him almost no time.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Through the infield he runs; right at a fielder he may hold.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Hard grounders and liners get past fielders who are close.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Teams bring the infield in when stopping one run decides the game.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A pop-up is an easy out that cannot score the runner.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A hard ball beats the drawn-in infield.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Hard balls through the hole score him; pop-ups never do.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
A drawn-in infielder can cut down the run on a ball hit at him.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 6Leading off an inningTake a test
With nobody on, the first job is to reach base.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A free runner with nobody out has three outs to be driven in.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Seeing a pitch helps judge a pitcher he has not faced.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A runner on second with nobody out has a strong chance to score.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Runners on base early give the middle of the order chances.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A long at-bat raises the pitcher's count and shows his pitches.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Reaching base, by hit or walk, is what starts an inning.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Patience earns a walk to start the inning.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Second base beats first; an out gives nothing.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
A runner with nobody out late in a tie game often scores.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 7Facing a hard-throwing closerTake a test
A shorter swing gets the bat to the ball sooner.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The ball reaches the plate in about four-tenths of a second.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Many closers rely on a big fastball, so hitters gear up for it.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Geared up for speed, hitters are fooled by the slider or splitter.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Closers usually throw one inning, so high pitch counts hurt them.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A quick barrel meets the fastball out in front of the plate.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Seeing high velocity beforehand helps timing.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Look fastball, stay alive, lay off the breaking ball.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
The faster the pitch, the less time to decide.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
A shorter, quicker swing helps against high velocity.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 8Coming off the benchTake a test
A pinch hitter has one at-bat without warming into the game.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Many teams have batting cages near the dugout for warm-ups.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A pinch hitter gets few looks, so he jumps on a hittable pitch.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Video and notes replace the at-bats a starter would have had.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A pinch hitter who homers in his only at-bat changes the game.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A strong bat is kept for the key at-bat of the game.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A substituted player may not come back into the game.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Study, warm up, then the at-bat.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Pinch hitters often come first, then runners, then defensive subs.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Pinch hitters warm up in the cage before being called.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 9Quality at-batsTake a test
Coaches count at-bats that help even without a hit.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Reaching base, hard contact and long at-bats count.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Many pitches raise the pitch count and show his stuff.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Over a season, hard-hit balls fall for hits more often.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A well-hit ball can be caught; a quality at-bat measures the process.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
An easy out on the first pitch gives the team nothing.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Doing the situational job counts even without a hit.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Driving in runs, then a long walk; an easy out is not quality.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Even ending in an out, a long, hard at-bat is quality.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Coaches mark the process, not just the result.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 10Coming from behind lateTake a test
The team needs base runners to bring the tying run up.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
With enough runners on, the batter's home run would tie the score.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Each out lost on the bases shortens the comeback.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Giving away outs makes a multi-run comeback harder.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Patience matters: the pitcher has to throw strikes and runners are needed.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A rally strings together base runners and runs.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Late in the game each at-bat may be among the last chances.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Base runners first, then the big hit.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
More runs and fewer outs left make it harder.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Four runs would turn a three-run deficit into a win.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Questions people ask
- How should a batter hit with a runner on third and less than two outs?
- He should put the ball in play. A deep enough fly lets the runner tag and score, and a grounder against a deep infield usually brings the run in while the defence takes the out at first; a strikeout cannot score him.
- What does moving the runner over mean in baseball?
- It means hitting the ball so a runner advances a base, usually a ground ball to the right side that sends a runner from second to third while the throw goes to first. The hitter usually gives himself up for the extra base, and from third a fly, grounder or wild pitch can bring the runner in.
- Why do runners go on contact with two outs?
- With two outs any out ends the inning, so there is nothing to lose by running as soon as the ball is hit. The head start lets a runner score from second on a single.
- How do you hit against a drawn-in infield?
- Hard grounders and line drives get past fielders standing close, and a high chop can go over them for a hit. A routine grounder hit at a drawn-in fielder lets him throw home in time, and a pop-up cannot score the runner at all.
- What is a quality at-bat?
- It is an at-bat coaches count as useful even without a hit, such as reaching base, hard contact, a long at-bat or doing the situational job. It measures the process, because a well-hit ball can still be caught, whereas an easy out on the first pitch gives the team nothing.
- How do you hit against a closer who throws very hard?
- A shorter, quicker swing gets the bat to the ball sooner, since the pitch reaches the plate in about four-tenths of a second. Hitters gear up for the fastball, try to stay alive and lay off the slider or splitter that fools them.
- What makes pinch-hitting difficult?
- A pinch hitter gets one at-bat without warming into the game, so he gets few looks and jumps on a hittable pitch. He prepares with video and notes and warms up in the batting cage near the dugout before he is called.
Sources
General baseball references, WBSC and league material, coaching manuals; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered rules belong to the Rules category.
- General baseball reference100