# 1976 NCAA Division I baseball tournament

The 1976 NCAA Division I baseball tournament was played at the end of the 1976 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 thirtieth year. Eight regional competitions were held to determine the participants in the final event. Seven regions held a four team, double-elimination tournament while one region included six teams, resulting in 34 teams participating in the tournament at the conclusion of their regular season, and in some cases, after a conference tournament. The thirtieth tournament's champion was Arizona, coached by Jerry Kindall. The Most Outstanding Player was Steve Powers of Arizona.

## Regionals

Seven of the eight regionals were played as 4-team double-elimination tournaments. One regional was played as a 6-team double-elimination tournament. The winner of each regional moved onto the College World Series.

### Atlantic Regional

Games played in Columbia, South Carolina.
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Clemson | Clemson | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Furman | Furman | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Furman | Furman | 2 | Clemson | Clemson | 10 | | | | |
| | | | South Carolina | South Carolina | 4 | | | | |
| South Carolina | South Carolina | 7* | South Carolina | South Carolina | 4 | | | | |
| Virginia Tech | Virginia Tech | 6* | | | | | | | |
| Virginia Tech | Virginia Tech | 6* | | | | Clemson | Clemson | 6 | — |
| | | | | | | Furman | Furman | 2 | — |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | Furman | Furman | 2 | — |
| | | | South Carolina | South Carolina | 1 | | | | |
| Furman | Furman | 5 | Furman | Furman | 12 | | | | |
| Virginia Tech | Virginia Tech | 4 | | | | | | | |

### Rocky Mountain Regional

Games played in Tempe, Arizona.
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Memphis | Memphis | 6 | | | | | | | |
| Minnesota | Minnesota | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Minnesota | Minnesota | 0 | Memphis | Memphis | 4 | | | | |
| | | | Arizona State | Arizona State | 11 | | | | |
| Arizona State | Arizona State | 13 | Arizona State | Arizona State | 11 | | | | |
| Gonzaga | Gonzaga | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Gonzaga | Gonzaga | 2 | | | | Arizona State | Arizona State | 12 | — |
| | | | | | | Minnesota | Minnesota | 5 | — |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | Minnesota | Minnesota | 5 | — |
| | | | Memphis | Memphis | 4 | | | | |
| Minnesota | Minnesota | 4 | Minnesota | Minnesota | 17 | | | | |
| Gonzaga | Gonzaga | 0 | | | | | | | |

### Mideast Regional

Games played in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Illinois State | Illinois State | 5 | | | | | | | |
| Southern Illinois | Southern Illinois | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Southern Illinois | Southern Illinois | 2 | Illinois State | Illinois State | 0 | | | | |
| | | | Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 3 | | | | |
| Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 6 | Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 3 | | | | |
| Michigan | Michigan | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Michigan | Michigan | 0 | | | | Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 3 | 6 |
| | | | | | | Michigan | Michigan | 5 | 0 |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | Michigan | Michigan | 5 | 0 |
| | | | Illinois State | Illinois State | 4 | | | | |
| Southern Illinois | Southern Illinois | 0 | Michigan | Michigan | 5 | | | | |
| Michigan | Michigan | 2 | | | | | | | |

### South Regional

Games played in Tallahassee, Florida.
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Auburn | Auburn | 10 | | | | | | | |
| Middle Tennessee | Middle Tennessee | 5 | | | | | | | |
| Middle Tennessee | Middle Tennessee | 5 | Auburn | Auburn | 2 | | | | |
| | | | Florida State | Florida State | 1 | | | | |
| Florida State | Florida State | 6 | Florida State | Florida State | 1 | | | | |
| Jacksonville | Jacksonville | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Jacksonville | Jacksonville | 1 | | | | Auburn | Auburn | 7 | — |
| | | | | | | Jacksonville | Jacksonville | 5 | — |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | Jacksonville | Jacksonville | 5 | — |
| | | | Florida State | Florida State | 7 | | | | |
| Middle Tennessee | Middle Tennessee | 5 | Jacksonville | Jacksonville | 9 | | | | |
| Jacksonville | Jacksonville | 8 | | | | | | | |

### Midwest Regional

Games played in Edinburg, Texas.
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Missouri | Missouri | 5 | | | | | | | |
| Texas A&M | Texas A&M | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Texas A&M | Texas A&M | 3 | Missouri | Missouri | 1 | | | | |
| | | | Arizona | Arizona | 10 | | | | |
| Arizona | Arizona | 5 | Arizona | Arizona | 10 | | | | |
| Texas–Pan American | Texas–Pan American | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Texas–Pan American | Texas–Pan American | 0 | | | | Arizona | Arizona | 8 | — |
| | | | | | | Texas A&M | Texas A&M | 2 | — |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | Texas A&M | Texas A&M | 2 | — |
| | | | Missouri | Missouri | 3 | | | | |
| Texas A&M | Texas A&M | 2 | Texas A&M | Texas A&M | 12 | | | | |
| Texas–Pan American | Texas–Pan American | 1 | | | | | | | |

### South Central Regional

Games played in Arlington, Texas.
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 11 | | | | | | | |
| Miami (FL) | Miami (FL) | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Miami (FL) | Miami (FL) | 3 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 3 | | | | |
| | | | Texas | Texas | 2 | | | | |
| Texas | Texas | 3 | Texas | Texas | 2 | | | | |
| Lamar | Lamar | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Lamar | Lamar | 2 | | | | Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 5* | 4 |
| | | | | | | Texas | Texas | 6* | 1 |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | Texas | Texas | 6* | 1 |
| | | | Texas | Texas | 5 | | | | |
| Miami (FL) | Miami (FL) | 6 | Miami (FL) | Miami (FL) | 0 | | | | |
| Lamar | Lamar | 0 | | | | | | | |

### West Regional

Games played in Pullman, Washington.
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | 7 | | | | | | | |
| Northern Colorado | Northern Colorado | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Northern Colorado | Northern Colorado | 1 | Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | 1 | | | | |
| | | | Washington State | Washington State | 5 | | | | |
| Washington State | Washington State | 8 | Washington State | Washington State | 5 | | | | |
| Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 2 | | | | Washington State | Washington State | 1 | 7 |
| | | | | | | Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | 13 | 2 |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | 13 | 2 |
| | | | Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | 11 | | | | |
| Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 4 | Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 3 | | | | |
| Northern Colorado | Northern Colorado | 2 | | | | | | | |

### Northeast Regional

Games played in Storrs, Connecticut.
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Seton Hall | Seton Hall | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| St. John's | St. John's | 0 | Seton Hall | Seton Hall | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | Penn State | Penn State | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Temple | Temple | 6 | | | | Seton Hall | Seton Hall | 1 | | | | | | |
| Columbia | Columbia | 2 | | | | Maine | Maine | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | Temple | Temple | 3 | | | | | | | Maine | Maine | 4 | — |
| | | | Maine | Maine | 6 | | | | | | | Seton Hall | Seton Hall | 2 | — |
| Maine | Maine | 11 | | | | | | | Seton Hall | Seton Hall | 1 | | | | |
| Penn State | Penn State | 4 | | | | St. John's | St. John's | 3 | Temple | Temple | 0 | | | | |
| | | | Columbia | Columbia | 5 | Temple | Temple | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | St. John's | St. John's | 12 | | | | | | | | | | |

## College World Series
### Participants

| School | Conference | Record (conference) | Head coach | CWS appearances | CWS best finish | CWS record |
| Arizona | WAC | 51–16 (12–6) | Jerry Kindall | 9 (last: 1970) | 2nd (1956, 1958, 1960) | 17–18 |
| Arizona State | WAC | 62–8 (17–1) | Jim Brock | 7 (last: 1975) | 1st (1965, 1967, 1969) | 26–11 |
| Auburn | SEC | 37–13 (12–7) | Paul Nix | 1 (last: 1967) | 4th (1967) | 2–2 |
| Clemson | ACC | 35–13 (10–2) | Bill Wilhelm | 2 (last: 1959) | 5th (1958, 1959) | 2–4 |
| Eastern Michigan | MAC | 43–14 (12–3) | Ron Oestrike | 1 (last: 1975) | 6th (1975) | 1–2 |
| Maine | Eastern Collegiate | 27–7 (n/a) | John Winkin | 1 (last: 1964) | 3rd (1964) | 3–2 |
| Oklahoma | Big 8 | 62–17 (4–1) | Enos Semore | 5 (last: 1975) | 1st (1951) | 9–8 |
| Washington State | Pac-8 | 42–13 (16–2) | Chuck Brayton | 3 (last: 1965) | 2nd (1950) | 5–6 |

### Results
#### Bracket

| Upper round 1 | Upper round 1 | Upper round 1 | Upper round 2 | Upper round 2 | Upper round 2 | Upper final | Upper final | Upper final | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Final | Final | Final |
| Clemson | Clemson | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Auburn | Auburn | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Auburn | Auburn | 4 | Clemson | Clemson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 3$^{10}$ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 3 | Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 3$^{10}$ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Maine | Maine | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Maine | Maine | 2 | | | | Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Arizona State | Arizona State | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Arizona State | Arizona State | 7$^{10}$ | | | | Arizona State | Arizona State | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Arizona State | Arizona State | 7$^{10}$ | | | | | | | Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 6 | | | | | | |
| Arizona | Arizona | 6 | | | | | | | Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 6 | | | | | | |
| Arizona | Arizona | 6 | Arizona State | Arizona State | 9 | | | | Arizona | Arizona | 11 | | | | | | |
| | | | Washington State | Washington State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Washington State | Washington State | 6 | Washington State | Washington State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Arizona | Arizona | 5 | Arizona | Arizona | 7 |
| | | | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 2 | Lower round 2 | Lower round 2 | | | | | Arizona State | Arizona State | 1 | | | |
| | | | | | | Washington State | Washington State | | | | | | 3 | | | | | |
| | | | Auburn | Auburn | 8 | Maine | Maine | | | | | | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | Auburn | Auburn | 8 | Maine | Maine | | Arizona State | Arizona State | 7 | | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | Maine | Maine | 9 | | | | Arizona State | Arizona State | 7 | | | | | | | |
| | | | Maine | Maine | 9 | | | | Maine | Maine | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Clemson | Clemson | | Maine | Maine | 0 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | Arizona | Arizona | 10 | Arizona | Arizona | | | | | 10 | | | | | | |
| | | | Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Game results

| Date | Game | Winner | Score | Loser | Notes |
| June 11 | Game 1 | Clemson | 9–4 | Auburn | |
| June 11 | Game 2 | Eastern Michigan | 3–2 | Maine | |
| June 12 | Game 3 | Arizona State | 7–6 (10 innings) | Arizona | |
| June 12 | Game 4 | Washington State | 6–1 | Oklahoma | |
| June 12 | Game 5 | Maine | 9–8 | Auburn | Auburn eliminated |
| June 13 | Game 6 | Arizona | 10–2 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma eliminated |
| June 13 | Game 7 | Eastern Michigan | 3–2 (10 innings) | Clemson | |
| June 13 | Game 8 | Arizona State | 9–3 | Washington State | |
| June 14 | Game 9 | Arizona | 10–6 | Clemson | Clemson eliminated |
| June 14 | Game 10 | Maine | 6–3 | Washington State | Washington State eliminated |
| June 15 | Game 11 | Eastern Michigan | 2–1 | Arizona State | |
| June 16 | Game 12 | Arizona State | 7–0 | Maine | Maine eliminated |
| June 16 | Game 13 | Arizona | 11–6 | Eastern Michigan | |
| June 18 | Game 14 | Arizona | 5–1 | Arizona State | Arizona State eliminated |
| June 19 | Final | Arizona | 7–1 | Eastern Michigan | Arizona wins CWS |

### All-Tournament Team

The following players were members of the All-Tournament Team.
| Position | Player | School |
| P | Bob Chaulk | Arizona |
| P | Bob Owchinko | Eastern Michigan |
| C | Ron Hassey | Arizona |
| 1B | Ken Phelps | Arizona State |
| 2B | Dan Schmitz | Eastern Michigan |
| 3B | Brian Petroff | Eastern Michigan |
| SS | Russ Quetti | Maine |
| OF | Ken Landreaux | Arizona State |
| OF | Dave Stegman | Arizona |
| OF | Pete Van Horne | Arizona |
| DH | Steve Powers (MOP) | Arizona |

### Notable players

* Arizona: Ron Hassey, Dave Stegman
* Arizona State: Gary Allenson, Chris Bando, Floyd Bannister, Mike Colbern, Bob Horner, Dave Hudgens, Darrell Jackson, Ken Landreaux, Chris Nyman, Bob Pate, Rick Peters, Ken Phelps, Gary Rajsich
* Auburn: Joe Beckwith, Terry Leach
* Clemson: Ron Musselman, Chuck Porter, Kurt Seibert
* Eastern Michigan: Glenn Gulliver, John Martin, Bob Owchinko, Bob Welch
* Maine: Jack Leggett, Bert Roberge
* Oklahoma: Terry Bogener, Keith Drumright, George Frazier, Gene Krug, Roger LaFrancois
* Washington State: Dave Edler, Eric Wilkins, Tom Niedenfuer

## Tournament Notes

* The Arizona State team featured 13 future Major League players – a record matched by the school's team from the previous year.
* Arizona head coach Jerry Kindall became the first person to win a College World Series as both a player (1956, Minnesota) and a coach.
* Keith Drumright appeared in his fourth College World Series.
* Eastern Michigan was the last northern school to play in the final game of the College World Series for 43 years, until Michigan in 2019.