If the runner was not ruled out then it was a 'dead ball' and no play was made and the runner should be returned to second. The ball does not become live until it is back in the circle and the pitcher takes the plate.
Ummm...no.
The ball remains live following a foul tip (unless you're playing slow pitch). The runner still must adhere to all the baserunning regulations (remaining in contact with her base, any potential look back rule violations, etc.) and may still advance, retreat or even be tagged out.
But, having said that...there is no grounds for calling "coach's interference" on this play and certainly no grounds to advance the runner an extra base. Coach's interference can only be called on an
offensive coach.
If anything, this would be obstruction since it was a violation by the defensive team. Verbal obstruction can be called, but that would be a looong stretch on this one. For instance, if a defensive coach or player was actually addressing the runner and said something like, "That was a foul ball, you have to go back", then verbal obstruction could be called.
I can't see asking
the umpire if the ball was foul or not as directly addressing the runner or as a tactic designed to make her go back. Besides,
even if it was verbal obstruction, the penalty is to award the runner the base she would have achieved had she not been obstructed. That is obviously second base. there's no obstruction rule that supports awarding an advanced base that the runner would not have reached on her own, minus the obstruction.
Yes, the umpire blew it with his made up ruling. And so did the runner, by leaving her base at the direction of someone other than the umpire or her base coach. And so did the base coaches, by not screaming at her to stay put. And so did the defensive head coach, by not officially protesting an obvious misapplication of a playing rule.
As it reads, I can't see any other ruling than the runner is out on the tag.
By the way...on this play, immediately following the tipped ball, did the umpire give the foul tip signal?