Inning

In baseball, softball, and similar games, an inning is the basic unit of play, consisting of two halves or frames,^[1] the "top" (first half) and the "bottom" (second half). In each half, one team bats until three outs are made, with the other team playing defense.^[2] A full baseball game is typically scheduled for nine innings, while softball games consist of seven innings, although this may be shortened due to weather or extended if the score is tied at the end of the scheduled innings. The use of the term inning in baseball and softball contrasts with cricket and rounders, in which the term is innings in both singular and plural.