During a hit-and-run play, if a batted ball goes out of play, where are the runners awarded bases?

In a hit-and-run situation, if the batted ball subsequently goes out of play, the runners are awarded bases based on their positions at the time of the pitch. The specific ruling states that runners are entitled to advance to the base they were headed toward at the time the ball left the field, plus one additional base. This means that if a runner was on first base and had taken off for second when the ball was hit, he would be awarded third base due to the ball going out of play. Runners who were on base when the pitch was made are always considered for advancement based on their initial positions as well as their paths toward subsequent bases. This context is crucial in understanding how the runners are awarded base advancement when a batted ball leaves the field.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the established rules regarding base awards in this situation. There are specific guidelines that dictate how runners advance in relation to balls going out of play, which makes the understanding of their initial bases and their intended advancements key to answering this question correctly.