Pitched ball stuck behind backstop

Question
We had a tourney game today.  The situation was the game is tied 3-3 and there is a runner on third in the bottom of the last inning.  Our pitcher pitched a ball and it went off the catcher and was lodged behind a rubber backstop.  The runner from third came in and scored.  The ump called a dead ball out of play and awarded the run, which was the game winner.  

Does this constitute an out of play ball?  It was still in the field of play but went behind the backstop, not allowing the catcher to make a play on the runner.  Either way it was a sad way to lose a very competitive game. Just wondering the rule on that.


Thanks!

Will

Answer
Will,

From the sounds of it, it was the correct call.  I have worked on fields set up as you describe.  We cover how we will handle a ball that becomes trapped behind the rubber portion of the backstop at the plate meeting prior to the game.

Tom