I knew the rule existed. I didn't like it anyway.

After seeing the rule in action, I think it's ridiculous.

The rule in question is the international women's softball edict that states when a game is tied after nine innings, each team begins the 10th inning with a runner at second base.

How silly.

The Butler-Mount Lebanon game Wednesday was scoreless through nine innings, both pitchers working on true masterpieces.

Why should either be penalized because the other team can't score against her?

Butler sophomore Angie Reddick allowed six singles in 10 innings. She didn't walk a batter and no Golden Tornado player committed an error.

So the 10th inning comes along and Mount Lebanon gets to send a runner out to second base — just because.

Heaven forbid a playoff game be decided by natural means, such as when a batter reaches first base or beyond with a hit, walk, hit batsman, catcher's interference or misplayed third strike. The offensive team then tries to move that runner all the way around the bases to score.

Such is the concept of baseball, as invented many moons ago. Softball is played by the same premise.

Unless it's the 10th inning.

Mount Lebanon winds up scoring a run in the 10th because its "free" runner moved to third on a ground ball and reached home on a two-out single.

If the runner is not provided to the Blue Devils, they don't score that inning.

Yes, Butler was extended the same courtesy in the bottom of the 10th. The Tornado's "free" runner was doubled off the bag on a soft line drive to the second baseman.

This rule actually cost Butler an out. If the runner wasn't placed there, she couldn't have been doubled off, and this game ended with the Tornado's top two hitters waiting in the on-deck circle.

This "automatic runner on second" rule is silly because of the reason it exists: to prevent games from going deep into extra innings.

What is so terrible about that?

The pitcher would grow too weary, you say? Here's a thought: change pitchers.

The drama of a tie game in extra innings should be played out naturally. For this same reason, shootouts to determine ties in soccer and hockey are wrong, too.

For that matter, so is stopping a pro football game if the score is still tied after one overtime period. College football's overtime rule of each team starting on the opponent's 25-yard line is OK, but why not start at midfield?

At least that way, offenses have to move into field goal range.

What's the hurry to end dramatically close, tense games that extend beyond the usual time frame?

Players and teams should decide games that close no matter how long it takes.

It might have taken Butler or Mount Lebanon 15, 20, 25 innings to score a run the conventional way.

We'll never know.

And that's a shame.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle.