strike if the batter swings or offers the bat in an attempt to hit the pitch. A pitch batted into foul territory--a foul ball--is also a strike, unless the batter already has two strikes. Any pitch not called a strike, swung on and missed, or fouled-off, is a "ball" (originally "no ball").

A batter who accumulates three strikes in a single batting appearance has struck out and is ruled out (with the exception of an uncaught third strike);