# 1988 NCAA Division I baseball tournament

The 1988 NCAA Division I baseball tournament was played at the end of the 1988 NCAA Division I baseball season to determine the national champion of college baseball. The tournament concluded with eight teams competing in the College World Series, a double-elimination tournament in its forty-second 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. The forty-second tournament's champion was Stanford coached by Mark Marquess. The Most Outstanding Player was Lee Plemel of Stanford.

## Regionals

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. In 1988, for the first time, the NCAA seeded all six teams in each regional. The winners of each regional advanced to the College World Series.
Bold indicates winner.

### Northeast Regional at New Britain, CT

| First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | 1 | Clemson | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Rutgers | 6 | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Clemson | 3 | 4 | Rutgers | 6 | 4 | Rutgers | 1 | | | | |
| 6 | Fordham | 2 | | | | 2 | Stanford | 8 | | | | |
| 6 | Fordham | 2 | 6 | Fordham | 5 | 2 | Stanford | 8 | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Stanford | 7 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Stanford | 3 | 2 | Stanford | 7 | | | | 2 | Stanford | 6 | 16 |
| 5 | St. John's | 5 | | | | | | | 3 | Kentucky | 5 | 2 |
| 5 | St. John's | 5 | 5 | St. John's | 5 | | | | 3 | Kentucky | 5 | 2 |
| | | | 3 | Kentucky | 12 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Kentucky | 6 | 3 | Kentucky | 12 | 3 | Kentucky | 8 | | | | |
| 4 | Rutgers | 2 | | | | 1 | Clemson | 7 | | | | |
| 4 | Rutgers | 2 | 5 | St. John's | 1 | 1 | Clemson | 7 | | | | |
| | | | 1 | Clemson | 11 | | | | | | | |

### East Regional at Tallahassee, FL

| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | 1 | Florida | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | NC State | 13 | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Florida | 7 | 3 | NC State | 13 | 3 | NC State | 1 | | | | | | |
| 6 | George Mason | 0 | | | | 5 | Stetson | 4 | 5 | Stetson | 7 | |
| 6 | George Mason | 0 | 5 | Stetson | 2 | 5 | Stetson | 4 | 5 | Stetson | 7 | |
| | | | 5 | Stetson | 2 | | | | 2 | Florida State | 2 | |
| | | | 6 | George Mason | 1 | | | | 2 | Florida State | 2 | | | |
| 2 | Florida State | 10 | 6 | George Mason | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Florida State | 10 | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Stetson | 0 |
| 5 | Stetson | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Stetson | 0 |
| 5 | Stetson | 3 | 2 | Florida State | 8 | | | | | | | 1 | Florida | 8 |
| | | | 4 | Tulane | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | NC State | 0 | 4 | Tulane | 6 | 2 | Florida State | 3 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Tulane | 1 | | | | 1 | Florida | 9 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Tulane | 1 | 4 | Tulane | 5 | 1 | Florida | 9 | | | | | | |
| | | | 1 | Florida | 9 | | | | | | | | | |

### Atlantic Regional at Coral Gables, FL

| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Miami (FL) | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Towson | 0 | 1 | Miami (FL) | 18 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | James Madison | 8 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Georgia Tech | 9 | | | | 1 | Miami (FL) | 4 | | | | | | |
| 5 | VCU | 6 | | | | 2 | Georgia Tech | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Georgia Tech | 7 | | | | | | | 1 | Miami (FL) | 10 | — |
| | | | 3 | South Carolina | 6 | | | | | | | 3 | South Carolina | 3 | — |
| 3 | South Carolina | 3 | | | | | | | 2 | Georgia Tech | 0 | | | | |
| 4 | James Madison | 2 | | | | 3 | South Carolina | 5 | 3 | South Carolina | 5 | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Towson | 4 | 5 | Towson | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | VCU | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Central Regional at Austin, TX

| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Texas | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Southern | 3 | 1 | Texas | 16 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | New Orleans | 10 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | California | 13 | | | | 1 | Texas | 7 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Penn | 3 | | | | 2 | California | 8 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | California | 8* | | | | | | | 2 | California | 6 | — |
| | | | 4 | Michigan | 7* | | | | | | | 1 | Texas | 5 | — |
| 3 | New Orleans | 4 | | | | | | | 1 | Texas | 5 | | | | |
| 4 | Michigan | 6 | | | | 4 | Michigan | 7 | 4 | Michigan | 4 | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Southern | 6 | 5 | Penn | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Penn | 10 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Midwest Regional at Stillwater, OK

| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Oklahoma State | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | McNeese State | 4 | 1 | Oklahoma State | 13 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Arkansas | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Wichita State | 6 | | | | 1 | Oklahoma State | 5 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Southwestern Louisiana | 2 | | | | 2 | Wichita State | 8 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Wichita State | 10 | | | | | | | 2 | Wichita State | 7 | 15 |
| | | | 3 | Loyola Marymount | 6 | | | | | | | 1 | Oklahoma State | 12 | 5 |
| 3 | Loyola Marymount | 8 | | | | | | | 1 | Oklahoma State | 8 | | | | |
| 4 | Arkansas | 3 | | | | 3 | Loyola Marymount | 12 | 3 | Loyola Marymount | 6 | | | | |
| | | | 6 | McNeese State | 11 | 6 | McNeese State | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Southwestern Louisiana | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |

### South Regional at Starkville, MS

| First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | 6 | Middle Tennessee | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Missouri | 10 | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Texas A&M | 0 | 4 | Missouri | 10 | 4 | Missouri | 2 | | | | |
| 6 | Middle Tennessee | 3 | | | | 1 | Texas A&M | 6 | | | | |
| 6 | Middle Tennessee | 3 | 1 | Texas A&M | 8 | 1 | Texas A&M | 6 | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Western Carolina | 6 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Mississippi State | 7* | 5 | Western Carolina | 6 | | | | 3 | Cal State Fullerton | 6 | — |
| 5 | Western Carolina | 4* | | | | | | | 1 | Texas A&M | 3 | — |
| 5 | Western Carolina | 4* | 2 | Mississippi State | 1 | | | | 1 | Texas A&M | 3 | — |
| | | | 3 | Cal State Fullerton | 5 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Cal State Fullerton | 6 | 3 | Cal State Fullerton | 5 | 3 | Cal State Fullerton | 5* | | | | |
| 4 | Missouri | 3 | | | | 2 | Mississippi State | 3* | | | | |
| 4 | Missouri | 3 | 6 | Middle Tennessee | 4 | 2 | Mississippi State | 3* | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Mississippi State | 12 | | | | | | | |

### West I Regional at Fresno, CA

| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Fresno State | 10* | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Minnesota | 8* | 1 | Fresno State | 9 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | BYU | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Washington State | 8 | | | | 1 | Fresno State | 17 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Santa Clara | 5 | | | | 4 | USC | 18 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Washington State | 9 | | | | | | | 4 | USC | 12 | 3 |
| | | | 4 | USC | 10 | | | | | | | 1 | Fresno State | 17 | 14 |
| 3 | BYU | 8 | | | | | | | 1 | Fresno State | 7 | | | | |
| 4 | USC | 9 | | | | 2 | Washington State | 6 | 2 | Washington State | 6 | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Minnesota | 3 | 5 | Santa Clara | 5 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Santa Clara | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |

### West II Regional at Tempe, AZ

| First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | 6 | Evansville | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | UNLV | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Arizona State | 0 | 4 | UNLV | 2 | 4 | UNLV | 8 | | | | |
| 6 | Evansville | 1 | | | | 1 | Arizona State | 27 | | | | |
| 6 | Evansville | 1 | 1 | Arizona State | 13 | 1 | Arizona State | 27 | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Oklahoma | 6 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 1 | 2 | Oklahoma | 6 | | | | 1 | Arizona State | 11 | 10 |
| 5 | Pepperdine | 10 | | | | | | | 5 | Pepperdine | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | Pepperdine | 10 | 5 | Pepperdine | 11 | | | | 5 | Pepperdine | 4 | 5 |
| | | | 3 | Central Michigan | 8 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Central Michigan | 10 | 3 | Central Michigan | 8 | 5 | Pepperdine | 5* | | | | |
| 4 | UNLV | 7 | | | | 3 | Central Michigan | 4* | | | | |
| 4 | UNLV | 7 | 6 | Evansville | 6 | 3 | Central Michigan | 4* | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Central Michigan | 7 | | | | | | | |

## College World Series

After 38 seasons as a full double-elimination tournament, the format changed for 1988. Teams were split into two four-team double-elimination brackets, with the winners of each bracket meeting in a one-game championship. This format was used through 2002.

### Participants

| Seeding | School | Conference | Record (conference) | Head coach | CWS appearances | CWS best finish | CWS record |
| 1 | Arizona State | Pac-10 | 56–11 (21–9) | Jim Brock | 14 (last: 1987) | 1st (1965, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1981) | 46–23 |
| 2 | Fresno State | PCAA | 56–10 (20–1) | Bob Bennett | 1 (last: 1959) | 3rd (1959) | 3–2 |
| 3 | Miami (FL) | n/a | 50–12–1 (n/a) | Ron Fraser | 9 (last: 1986) | 1st (1982, 1985) | 22–15 |
| 4 | Wichita State | MVC | 54–14–1 (16–4) | Gene Stephenson | 1 (last: 1982) | 2nd (1982) | 3–2 |
| 5 | Florida | SEC | 47–17–1 (21–6) | Joe Arnold | 0 (last: none) | none | 0–0 |
| 6 | Cal State Fullerton | PCAA | 41–16 (12–8) | Larry Cochell | 4 (last: 1984) | 1st (1979, 1984) | 10–6 |
| 7 | Stanford | Pac-10 | 41–22 (18–12) | Mark Marquess | 6 (last: 1987) | 1st (1987) | 12–11 |
| 8 | California | Pac-10 | 40–23 (16–14) | Bob Milano | 3 (last: 1980) | 1st (1947, 1957) | 10–2 |

### Results

Of the 15 tournaments in which a single championship game was played, this was the only one where both teams entered the final with a loss.

#### Bracket

| First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | | | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Arizona State | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | California | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | California | 2 | 1 | Arizona State | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Wichita State | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Wichita State | 5 | 4 | Wichita State | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Florida | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Florida | 4 | | | | 4 | Wichita State | 3 | 1 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 1 | Arizona State | 4$^{10}$ | 19 | | | | | |
| 8 | California | 5 | | | | | | | | 1 | Arizona State | 4$^{10}$ | 19 | | | | |
| 5 | Florida | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Florida | 6 | 1 | Arizona State | 10 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Florida | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Arizona State | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Stanford | 9 |
| 7 | Stanford | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Stanford | 9 |
| 2 | Fresno State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Fresno State | 3 | 7 | Stanford | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Cal State Fullerton | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Cal State Fullerton | 9 | 6 | Cal State Fullerton | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Miami (FL) | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Miami (FL) | 3 | | | | 6 | Cal State Fullerton | 1 | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 7 | Stanford | 3 | 9 | | | | | |
| 2 | Fresno State | 4 | | | | | | | | 7 | Stanford | 3 | 9 | | | | |
| 3 | Miami (FL) | 8$^{12}$ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Miami (FL) | 8$^{12}$ | 7 | Stanford | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Miami (FL) | 1 | | | | | | | | | |

#### Game results

| Date | Game | Winner | Score | Loser | Notes |
| June 3 | Game 1 | Arizona State | 4–2 | California | |
| June 3 | Game 2 | Wichita State | 5–4 | Florida | |
| June 4 | Game 3 | Stanford | 10–3 | Fresno State | |
| June 4 | Game 4 | Cal State Fullerton | 9–3 | Miami (FL) | |
| June 5 | Game 5 | Florida | 6–5 | California | California eliminated |
| June 5 | Game 6 | Wichita State | 7–4 | Arizona State | |
| June 6 | Game 7 | Miami (FL) | 8–4 (12 innings) | Fresno State | Fresno State eliminated |
| June 6 | Game 8 | Cal State Fullerton | 5–3 | Stanford | |
| June 7 | Game 9 | Arizona State | 10–1 | Florida | Florida eliminated |
| June 7 | Game 10 | Stanford | 2–1 | Miami (FL) | Miami (FL) eliminated |
| June 8 | Game 11 | Arizona State | 4–3 (10 innings) | Wichita State | |
| June 9 | Game 12 | Stanford | 3–1 | Cal State Fullerton | |
| June 10 | Game 13 | Arizona State | 19–1 | Wichita State | Wichita State eliminated |
| June 10 | Game 14 | Stanford | 9–5 | Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton eliminated |
| June 11 | Final | Stanford | 9–4 | Arizona State | Stanford wins CWS |

### All-Tournament Team

The following players were members of the All-Tournament Team.
| Position | Player | School |
| P | Rusty Kilgo | Arizona State |
| P | Lee Plemel (MOP) | Stanford |
| C | Doug Robbins | Stanford |
| 1B | Ron Witmeyer | Stanford |
| 2B | Mark Standiford | Wichita State |
| 3B | John Finn | Arizona State |
| SS | Pat Listach | Arizona State |
| OF | Ricky Candelari | Arizona State |
| OF | Henrique Herman | Cal State Fullerton |
| OF | Dan Rumsey | Arizona State |
| DH | Martin Peralta | Arizona State |

### Notable players

* Arizona State: Kevin Higgins, Pat Listach, Blas Minor, Tim Spehr
* Cal State Fullerton: Huck Flener, Brent Mayne
* California: Jeff Kent, Darren Lewis
* Florida: Jamie McAndrew, Herb Perry
* Fresno: Tom Goodwin, Steve Hosey, Erik Schullstrom, Eddie Zosky
* Miami (FL): Joe Grahe, Kurt Knudsen, Oscar Múñoz
* Stanford: Paul Carey, Steve Chitren, Brian Johnson, Brian Keyser, Mike Mussina, Stan Spencer, Ed Sprague, Ron Witmeyer
* Wichita State: Greg Brummett, P. J. Forbes, Dave Haas, Mike Lansing, Pat Meares, Eric Wedge

## Tournament notes

* Arizona State sets a new tournament record scoring 27 runs in their victory over UNLV surpassing the record set by Arizona in the 1986 tournament when they scored 26 runs.