Base runner out or safe

Question
We had a situation happen in one of our games where the opposing teams batter got a base hit to RF, she rounded first base and took 3 - 4 steps towards 2nd and stopped. Our right fielder threw the ball to our 1st baseman, the runner then started back to 1st and our 1st baseman tagged her before she got back to the bag. The ump called her her safe saying she has every right to get back to the bag as long as after she stopped she did not try to advance to 2nd. Is this the correct call? I argued that since she turned into fair territory and the ball is not dead she should have been called out.

Answer
Hi Mike,

When a b-r OVERRUNS 1st they may turn right OR LEFT (into fair territory) and return to 1st w/out being put into jeopardy.  However if any attempt is made to advance to 2nd they are liable to be put out.

If the b-r "ROUNDS " the base and took 3-4 steps toward 2nd they are very liable to be put out.  If they rounded the base and were tagged before returning to 1st, I have an out.

Overrunning and rounding the base are 2 different things.

Mark