Does the starting pitcher get the decision if she leaves after four complete innings with the lead, and the lead doesn't change?

[UB40]

The starting pitcher completed four innings, faced two batters in the top fo the fifth, and was pulled with the her team leading. The relief pitcher gave up a number of runs but the* lead never changed.

The varsity coach announced that the relief pitcher got the credit for the win.

*edited-typo

 

[Lance Steckler]

and the varsity coach is an idiot.

 

[dlsumpntx]

Name calling ... not very classy

 

[cnardone]

MLB the starter needs to complete 5 innings to earn a win. I have no idea on the official scoring in HS. But I bet that is where the coach got the idea.

 

[bmakj]

The starting pitcher completed four innings, faced two batters in the top fo the fifth, and was pulled with the her team leading. The relief pitcher gave up a number of runs but never lead never changed.

The varsity coach announced that the relief pitcher got the credit for the win.

just to clarify, because not clear to me, did the other team eventually surpass the runs the pitchers team had at the time she left the game (even if the Ps team also subsequently scored more, this would not five win to starting P) ie if P's team was winning 5-2 when they left the game, and final score was 6-5 for Ps team, no W for P (no decision)

 

[UB40]

MLB the starter needs to complete 5 innings to earn a win. I have no idea on the official scoring in HS. But I bet that is where the coach got the idea.

Yeah, the coach tells the girls to watch MLB. I wonder if he doesn't know NCAA softball is on TV.

 

[UB40]

just to clarify, because not clear to me, did the other team eventually surpass the runs the pitchers team had at the time she left the game (even if the Ps team also subsequently scored more, this would not five win to starting P) ie if P's team was winning 5-2 when they left the game, and final score was 6-5 for Ps team, no W for P (no decision)

The lead never changed.

The starting pitcher left the game with a 12-5 lead. The game ended 15-11.

 

[bmakj]

then yes, SP should get the win, unless they need more than 4 inning to get a decision. but if they needed 5, no one gets the W, team did not acquire the lead with any one else as pitcher of record.

 

[CoachToona]

The official definition depends based on NCAA, NPF, etc, but a good rule of thumb is divide the number of innings in the game by 2 and round up any fractional amount. So, in MLB, 9 becomes 4.5 rounded to 5 innings needed. Fastpitch is 7 becomes 3.5, rounded to 4. (If it is a sanctioned 5 inning game in a double header, it would be 2.5 -> 3 innings). Many high school guidelines say "half the game", which would seem like 3 2/3 innings would qualify. Regardless, 4 innings pitched and the lead never changed in relief... starting pitcher gets the win, reliever gets the save due to the number of innings pitched not the closeness of the game.

NFCA defines a win as:
1. Credit the starting pitcher With a Win if she has pitched at least four total innings, is ahead when replaced, and if the team stays ahead for the rest of the game. 2. When a regulation game ends after five innings, the starting pitcher must pitch three innings and her team must win in order to be credited with the win.

NFCA defines a save as:
1. A pitcher must meet all three of the following conditions to be credited with a save: a - She is the last pitcher in the win, and b - She is not the winning pitcher, and c - She meets one of the following: 1) She enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least One inning, or 2) She pitches effectively for at least three innings, or3) She enters the game with the potential tieing run either on base, at bat or on deck.

The varsity coach is mistaken.

 

[cnardone]

@bmakj IS that an official HS scoring rule? in MLB there is always a winning pitcher. If the starting pitcher does not go 5 but there was never a lead change, the official scorer decides which relief pitcher deserved the W.