| Season | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Teams | 48 |
| Finals site | |
| Champions | LSU (4th title) |
| Runner-up | Alabama (4th CWS Appearance) |
| Winning coach | Skip Bertman (4th title) |
| MOP | Brandon Larson (LSU) |
The1997 NCAA Division I baseball tournament was played at the end of the1997 NCAA Division I baseball season to determine the national champion ofcollege baseball. The tournament concluded with eight teams competing in theCollege World Series, a double-elimination tournament in its fifty first year. Eight regional competitions were held to determine the participants in the final event. Each region was composed of six teams, resulting in 48 teams participating in the tournament at the conclusion of their regular season, and in some cases, after a conference tournament;Ivy League champion Harvard playedPatriot League champion Army in a play-in series that went the full three games to determine who would play in the NCAA tournament.[1][2][3] The fifty-first tournament's champion wasLSU, coached bySkip Bertman. The Most Outstanding Player wasBrandon Larson ofLSU.
The opening rounds of the tournament were played across eight regional sites across the country, each consisting of a six-team field. Each regional tournament is double-elimination, however region brackets are variable depending on the number of teams remaining after each round. The winners of each regional advanced to the College World Series.
Bold indicates winner.
Hosted by Miami (FL) atMark Light Field inCoral Gables, Florida.
| First round | Second round | Third round | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Miami (FL) | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Richmond | 4 | 1 | Miami(FL) | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | FIU | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Florida | 4 | 1 | Miami(FL) | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | St. John's | 3 | 3 | Arizona State | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Florida | 2 | 3 | Arizona State | 6 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Arizona State | 3 | 1 | Miami(FL) | 7 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Arizona State | 10 | 1 | Miami(FL) | 611 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | FIU | 2 | 2 | Florida | 16 | 2 | Florida | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Richmond | 10 | 6 | Richmond | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | St. John's | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Hosted by Texas Tech atDan Law Field inLubbock, Texas.
| First round | Second round | Third round | Final | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Southwest Texas State | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Nevada | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Texas Tech | 6 | 4 | Nevada | 9 | ||||||||||||||
| 6 | Southwest Texas State | 7 | 5 | Southwest Missouri State | 10 | ||||||||||||||
| 1 | Texas Tech | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Southwest Missouri State | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Rice | 5 | 5 | Southwest Missouri State | 6 | — | |||||||||||||
| 5 | Southwest Missouri State | 2 | 2 | Rice | 25 | — | |||||||||||||
| 2 | Rice | 10 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Clemson | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Clemson | 13 | 2 | Rice | 13 | ||||||||||||||
| 4 | Nevada | 9 | 6 | Southwest Texas State | 9 | ||||||||||||||
| 6 | Southwest Texas State | 12 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Clemson | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
Hosted by Florida State atDick Howser Stadium inTallahassee, Florida.
| First round | Second round | Third round | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Florida State | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Marist | 2 | 1 | Florida State | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | UCF | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Auburn | 11 | 1 | Florida State | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Western Carolina | 3 | 2 | Auburn | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Auburn | 9 | 2 | Auburn | 7 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | South Florida | 0 | 1 | Florida State | 9 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | UCF | 4 | 1 | Florida State | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | South Florida | 5 | 4 | South Florida | 9 | 4 | South Florida | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Marist | 3 | 5 | Western Carolina | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Western Carolina | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Hosted by Mississippi State atDudy Noble Field inStarkville, Mississippi.
| First round | Second round | Third round | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Georgia Tech | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Tennessee Tech | 0 | 1 | Georgia Tech | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Southwestern Louisiana | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Mississippi State | 8 | 1 | Georgia Tech | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Ohio State | 5 | 4 | Washington | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Mississippi State | 4 | 4 | Washington | 5 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Washington | 5 | 2 | Mississippi State | 7 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Southwestern Louisiana | 4 | 1 | Georgia Tech | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Washington | 5 | 2 | Mississippi State | 25 | 2 | Mississippi State | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Tennessee Tech | 5 | 6 | Tennessee Tech | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Ohio State | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Hosted by Oklahoma State atAllie P. Reynolds Stadium inStillwater, Oklahoma.
| First round | Second round | Third round | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | UCLA | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Harvard | 7 | 6 | Harvard | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Stetson | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Tennessee | 5 | 6 | Harvard | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Ohio | 2 | 3 | Oklahoma State | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Tennessee | 1 | 3 | Oklahoma State | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Oklahoma State | 6 | 1 | UCLA | 14 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Oklahoma State | 8 | 6 | Harvard | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Stetson | 1 | 2 | Tennessee | 3 | 1 | UCLA | 14 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | UCLA | 15 | 1 | UCLA | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Ohio | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Hosted by Louisiana State atAlex Box Stadium inBaton Rouge, Louisiana.
| First round | Second round | Third round | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | LSU | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | UNC Greensboro | 0 | 1 | LSU | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Oklahoma | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | South Alabama | 12 | 1 | LSU | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Houston | 6 | 2 | South Alabama | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | South Alabama | 12 | 2 | South Alabama | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Long Beach State | 4 | 1 | LSU | 14 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Oklahoma | 0 | 1 | LSU | 14* | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Long Beach State | 1 | 4 | Long Beach State | 14 | 4 | Long Beach State | 7* | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | UNC Greensboro | 9 | 6 | UNC Greensboro | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Houston | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Hosted by Alabama atSewell–Thomas Stadium inTuscaloosa, Alabama.
| First round | Second round | Third round | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Alabama | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Troy State | 5 | 1 | Alabama | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Wichita State | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Southern California | 2 | 1 | Alabama | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Virginia Tech | 3 | 3 | NC State | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Virginia Tech | 6 | 1 | Alabama | 9* | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | NC State | 12 | 2 | Southern California | 8* | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | NC State | 10* | 3 | NC State | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Wichita State | 9* | 5 | Virginia Tech | 2 | 2 | Southern California | 13 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Troy State | 2 | 2 | Southern California | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Southern California | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Hosted by Stanford atSunken Diamond inStanford, California.
| First round | Second round | Third round | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Stanford | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Northeastern | 3 | 1 | Stanford | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Texas A&M | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Cal State Fullerton | 0 | 1 | Stanford | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Santa Clara | 5 | 5 | Santa Clara | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Santa Clara | 8 | 1 | Stanford | 5 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Fresno State | 1 | 4 | Fresno State | 2 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Texas A&M | 1 | 5 | Santa Clara | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Fresno State | 2 | 4 | Fresno State | 8 | 4 | Fresno State | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Northeastern | 4 | 2 | Cal State Fullerton | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Cal State Fullerton | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seeding | School | Conference | Record (conference) | Head coach | CWS appearances | CWS best finish | CWS record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama | SEC | 52–12 (20–9) | Jim Wells | 3 (last:1996) | 2nd (1983) | 5–6 |
| 2 | LSU | SEC | 53–13 (22–7) | Skip Bertman | 8 (last:1996) | 1st (1991,1993,1996) | 19–11 |
| 3 | Stanford | Pac-10 | 43–18 (21–9) | Mark Marquess | 9 (last:1995) | 1st (1987,1988) | 21–16 |
| 4 | UCLA | Pac-10 | 45–19–1 (19–11) | Gary Adams | 1 (last:1969) | 7th (1969) | 0–2 |
| 5 | Miami (FL) | n/a | 49–16 (n/a) | Jim Morris | 15 (last:1996) | 1st (1982,1985) | 32–26 |
| 6 | Auburn | SEC | 49–15 (17–12) | Hal Baird | 3 (last:1994) | 4th (1967) | 2–6 |
| 7 | Rice | WAC | 47–14 (20–9) | Wayne Graham | 0 (last: none) | none | 0–0 |
| 8 | Mississippi State | SEC | 46–19 (19–11) | Ron Polk | 5 (last:1990) | 3rd (1985) | 5–10 |
| First round | Second round | Semifinals | Finals | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Alabama | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Mississippi State | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Alabama | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Miami (FL) | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | UCLA | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Miami (FL) | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Miami (FL) | 6 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Alabama | 8 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Mississippi State | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | UCLA | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Alabama | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Mississippi State | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Alabama | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | LSU | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | LSU | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Rice | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | LSU | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Stanford | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Stanford | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Auburn | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | LSU | 13 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Stanford | 9 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Rice | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Auburn | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Stanford | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Auburn | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Game | Winner | Score | Loser | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 30 | Game 1 | Stanford | 8–3 | Auburn | |
| Game 2 | LSU | 5–4 | Rice | ||
| May 31 | Game 3 | Miami (FL) | 7–3 (12 innings) | UCLA | |
| Game 4 | Alabama | 3–2 | Mississippi State | ||
| June 1 | Game 5 | LSU | 10–5 | Stanford | |
| Game 6 | Auburn | 10–1 | Rice | Rice eliminated | |
| June 2 | Game 7 | Miami (FL) | 6–1 | Alabama | |
| Game 8 | Mississippi State | 7–5 | UCLA | UCLA eliminated | |
| June 3 | Game 9 | Stanford | 11–4 | Auburn | Auburn eliminated |
| Game 10 | Alabama | 9–5 | Mississippi State | Mississippi State eliminated | |
| June 4 | Game 11 | LSU | 13–9 | Stanford | Stanford eliminated |
| June 5 | Game 12 | Alabama | 8–6 | Miami (FL) | |
| June 6 | Game 13 | Alabama | 8–2 | Miami (FL) | Miami (FL) eliminated |
| June 7 | Final | LSU | 13–6 | Alabama | LSU wins CWS |
The following players were members of the College World Series All-Tournament Team.
| Position | Player | School |
|---|---|---|
| P | Jeff Austin | Stanford |
| Jarrod Kingrey | Alabama | |
| C | Matt Frick | Alabama |
| 1B | Eddy Furniss | LSU |
| 2B | Joe Caruso | Alabama |
| 3B | Andy Phillips | Alabama |
| SS | Brandon Larson (MOP) | LSU |
| OF | Tom Bernhardt | LSU |
| G.W. Keller | Alabama | |
| Mike Koerner | LSU | |
| DH | Mark Peer | Alabama |