Video Quiz from College Baseball

 
While most fans will focus on the altercation between UF and FSU, umpires will want to examine the first 6 seconds of this video from 3/25/2014. 
 
For the contact in front of first base (not the fight!), what is the call?
 
1. Does the running lane come into play in the case?
2. Does the runner have the "right-of-way" and obstruction should be called on the fielder?
3. Does the fielder have the "right-of-way" and interference should be called on the runner?
4. Does the fact that the defensive player muffed the initial play on the ball factor into the call?
5. Should "malicious contact" be called on the runner? If so, then what?
 
Call
The running lane rules only come into play when the batter-runner interferes with the throw to first base (or interferes with the fielder taking the throw at base). Although the batter-runner is in the base path, he still must avoid a defensive player who is attempting to field a batted ball.
 
If the fielder muffs the initial play, the fielder is still protected if the ball is “within a step and a reach” of the initial fielding attempt. If the fielder is outside that “cone of protection” he may now actually be obstructing the runner!
 
While it is hard to judge intent, is does not matter if the contact was intentional or accidental.
 
It is also sometimes hard to judge malicious contact, but if you watch the video several times (which the umpires do not get to do), it appears that the batter-runner actually moved further into fair territory as he saw where the ball and fielder were heading. However, this could be my incredible bias towards all things Gator!
 
In checking the box score, it appears that the umpires ruled the Heisman Award Winning runner "safe". I will defer to their judgment, but it sure looked like offensive interference and malicious contact.