Force out

[Guest Scott]

Runner at first base steals second on the pitch. Batter hit a pop up to shallow right field. Runner stealing touches second base then starts coming back to first. Ball drops in and the runner goes back to second. Is the force out still in play since he already was on second?

[CJK]

Yes.  When he retreats past second base, the force play is reinstated.

[noumpere]

Right from the rule book:

 

(Any runner is out when):

(6) He or the next base is tagged before he touches the next
base, after he has been forced to advance by reason of the
batter becoming a runner. However, if a following runner
is put out on a force play, the force is removed and the
runner must be tagged to be put out. The force is removed
as soon as the runner touches the base to which he is
forced to advance, and if he overslides or overruns the
base, the runner must be tagged to be put out. However, if
the forced runner, after touching the next base, retreats
for any reason towards the base he had last occupied, the
force play is reinstated, and he can again be put out if the
defense tags the base to which he is forced;