Minimum Player Rule To Finish

Question
This happened in ASA fast pitch game last night.

We had 10 players to begin the game. One player DP'd and hit for the pitcher.

So we had a 9 person lineup, w/ the pitcher not batting.

In the 7th inning, a player was thrown out of the game as he was hit by a pitch and threw equipment. Bases were loaded when the ejected player was up and that point w/ 0 outs.

Player ejected, that left us w/ a 8 man lineup, we were told the game was over bc you cant finish the game w/ 8 players in ASA fastpitch.

Is this true? From what I have read, an out could have been taken and the game went on and completed?  

What we think is the ejected player, would have been out 1, not awarded first base and game continues. We were down 8-6 and runners on 2nd/3rd. If we tie it up, we play field w/ 8 and take an out everytime the ejected players position comes up.

Thanks!

Answer
Hello Kris

A fastpitch team can play with 8 players under the shorthanded rule however there is one exception. A team may continue a game with one player less than it used to begin a game as long as the player vacancy is not created by an ejection.