Called out or safe

[Guest Nathan]

If a player is advancing to a base and the fielder makes the tag and the runner is immediately called out upon the original tag.  During the slide the ball is dislodged from the "taggers" glove into the air.  If another fielder catches or secures the ball before it touches the ground is the runner still out?

[Gfoley4]

Disregarding a too quick "out" call, the fielder who made the tag must keep the ball in his glove securely. Unless the other fielder was able to tag the runner and also gain possession, sounds like safe to me.

[UmpCast_Wes]

I agree with @Gfoley4 on this.  It sounds like what you are thinking of is the criteria for a catch from a batted ball.  In order for a tag to result in an out, the fielder's release of the ball immediately after the tag must be an intentional, voluntary release.  If it is knocked out of the glove by the offensive player (barring any intentional attempt to dislodge the ball), then the runner is safe.