The game ends after nine innings

... provided that one team has scored more runs than the other.

Consider the following scenarios, assuming that the game began with "Starter Team" playing offense (batting) and "Ender Team" playing defense (pitcher, catcher, and 7 other fielders).

Case 1: The ninth inning begins. Ender Team is winning.

Starter Team bats for the ninth time, but it makes three outs—thus ending its half-inning—without tying the game or going into the lead. The game is over, because Ender Team does not need to take its offensive turn, and is not allowed to add to its margin of victory.

Case 2: Starter Team finishes its turn at bat--its half of the ninth inning. Starter Team is winning, or the score is tied.

Ender Team gets a last chance to bat.

• If Ender Team scores enough runs to have a greater total than Starter Team, the game ends with the action that scores the winning run.
• If the ninth inning ends in a tied score, the teams play as many extra innings as necessary to determine a winner. Ender Team is always given a last chance to tie or win the game.