RUNNER STRUCK BY BATTED BALL

Question
SOFTBALL:  BASES LOADED NO OUTS, BATTER SENDS LINE DRIVE  FAIR DOWN THIRD BASE LINE, BALL STRIKES RUNNER STANDING ON THIRD BASE, THIRD BASEMAN PICKS UP BALL, TAGS STARTLED RUNNER BY THIRD, PROCEEDS TO STEP ON THIRD BASE AND THEN THROWS TO SECOND WHERE  HIS TEAMMATE STEPS ON SECOND BEFORE ANY RUNNERS HAVE ADVANCED, BALL WAS EVEN RELAYED TO FIRST IN TIME TO GET BATTER OUT.....WHAT IS CORRECT RULING?

Answer
Hi Larry,

It depends where the closest defensive player was...(almost always f5 in this case)

If f5 was in front of 3rd base the ball is alive and we play on.

If f5 was behind 3rd the ball is dead, b-r is awarded 1st and all other runner advance only if forced.

Mark