What is the ruling if a batter hits a ball that bounces over the fence?

When a batter hits a ball that goes over the fence, the ball is considered dead, and the runners are awarded specific bases depending on how the ball left the field. In this scenario, if the ball completely clears the outfield fence in flight, it is classified as a home run. This means that all runners, including the batter, are awarded home, allowing them to score. The fundamental rule is that a batted ball must leave the field in flight for the scoring event to occur in this manner.

Other possibilities such as runners being awarded one base or three bases typically apply to different situations, such as ground-rule doubles where the ball bounces before going out of play, or specific plays involving runners failing to touch their bases, which relates to a separate set of circumstances. In this case, the correct ruling directly pertains to the unique scenario where the ball entirely clears the fence in the air, allowing all runners to score by being awarded home.