In a force play at first base, if the fielder secures the ball just before the runner arrives, is the batter-runner out?

In a force play at first base, the situation involves a batter-runner trying to reach first base while a fielder is attempting to make the play by catching the ball before the runner arrives. In this scenario, if the fielder secures the ball just before the runner arrives, the key factor is whether or not the runner was forced to advance to that base due to the preceding runner's actions. If the batter-runner reaches first base before the fielder has possession of the ball, the batter-runner is still safe.

In essence, a force out requires that a runner is put out due to having to advance to a base because another runner is occupying a base they are attempting to access. Since the batter-runner is attempting to reach first base after hitting the ball, if he arrives there at the same moment the fielder secures the ball, he is not out, and thus the correct answer is that the batter-runner is safe, leading to a "False" response regarding his being out. This distinction is vital in understanding the nuances of force plays and runner dynamics in softball.