# 1997 NCAA Division I baseball tournament

The 1997 NCAA Division I baseball tournament was played at the end of the 1997 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 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 played Patriot League champion Army in a play-in series that went the full three games to determine who would play in the NCAA tournament. The fifty-first tournament's champion was LSU, coached by Skip Bertman. The Most Outstanding Player was Brandon Larson of LSU.

## 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. The winners of each regional advanced to the College World Series.
Bold indicates winner.

### Atlantic Regional

Hosted by Miami (FL) at Mark Light Field in Coral Gables, Florida.
| 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) | 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) | 6$^{11}$ | | | | |
| 4 | FIU | 2 | | | | 2 | Florida | 16 | 2 | Florida | 5 | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Richmond | 10 | 6 | Richmond | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | St. John's | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Central Regional

Hosted by Texas Tech at Dan Law Field in Lubbock, Texas.
| First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | 6 | Southwest Texas State | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Nevada | 7 | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Texas Tech | 6 | 4 | Nevada | 7 | 4 | Nevada | 9 | | | | |
| 6 | Southwest Texas State | 7 | | | | 5 | Southwest Missouri State | 10 | | | | |
| 6 | Southwest Texas State | 7 | 1 | Texas Tech | 2 | 5 | Southwest Missouri State | 10 | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Southwest Missouri State | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Rice | 5 | 5 | Southwest Missouri State | 4 | | | | 5 | Southwest Missouri State | 6 | — |
| 5 | Southwest Missouri State | 2 | | | | | | | 2 | Rice | 25 | — |
| 5 | Southwest Missouri State | 2 | 2 | Rice | 10 | | | | 2 | Rice | 25 | — |
| | | | 3 | Clemson | 6 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Clemson | 13 | 3 | Clemson | 6 | 2 | Rice | 13 | | | | |
| 4 | Nevada | 9 | | | | 6 | Southwest Texas State | 9 | | | | |
| 4 | Nevada | 9 | 6 | Southwest Texas State | 12 | 6 | Southwest Texas State | 9 | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Clemson | 7 | | | | | | | |

### East Regional

Hosted by Florida State at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.
| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | 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 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Mideast Regional

Hosted by Mississippi State at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, Mississippi.
| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | 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 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Midwest Regional

Hosted by Oklahoma State at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | 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 | | | | | | | | | | |

### South I Regional

Hosted by Louisiana State at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | 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 | | | | | | | | | | |

### South II Regional

Hosted by Alabama at Sewell–Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | 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 | | | | | | | | | | |

### West Regional

Hosted by Stanford at Sunken Diamond in Stanford, California.
| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | 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 | | | | | | | | | | |

## College World Series
### Participants

| 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 |

### Results
#### Bracket

| First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | | | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Alabama | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Mississippi State | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Mississippi State | 2 | 1 | Alabama | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Miami (FL) | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | UCLA | 3 | 5 | Miami (FL) | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Miami (FL) | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Miami (FL) | 7 | | | | 5 | Miami (FL) | 6 | 2 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 1 | Alabama | 8 | 8 | | | | | |
| 8 | Mississippi State | 7 | | | | | | | | 1 | Alabama | 8 | 8 | | | | |
| 4 | UCLA | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | UCLA | 5 | 1 | Alabama | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 8 | Mississippi State | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Alabama | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | LSU | 13 |
| 2 | LSU | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | LSU | 13 |
| 7 | Rice | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Rice | 4 | 2 | LSU | 10 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Stanford | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Stanford | 8 | 3 | Stanford | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Auburn | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Auburn | 3 | | | | 2 | LSU | 13 | — | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 3 | Stanford | 9 | — | | | | | |
| 7 | Rice | 1 | | | | | | | | 3 | Stanford | 9 | — | | | | |
| 6 | Auburn | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Auburn | 10 | 3 | Stanford | 11 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Auburn | 4 | | | | | | | | | |

#### Game results

| Date | Game | Winner | Score | Loser | Notes |
| May 30 | Game 1 | Stanford | 8–3 | Auburn | |
| May 30 | Game 2 | LSU | 5–4 | Rice | |
| May 31 | Game 3 | Miami (FL) | 7–3 (12 innings) | UCLA | |
| May 31 | Game 4 | Alabama | 3–2 | Mississippi State | |
| June 1 | Game 5 | LSU | 10–5 | Stanford | |
| June 1 | Game 6 | Auburn | 10–1 | Rice | Rice eliminated |
| June 2 | Game 7 | Miami (FL) | 6–1 | Alabama | |
| June 2 | Game 8 | Mississippi State | 7–5 | UCLA | UCLA eliminated |
| June 3 | Game 9 | Stanford | 11–4 | Auburn | Auburn eliminated |
| June 3 | 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 |

## All-Tournament Team

The following players were members of the College World Series All-Tournament Team.
| Position | Player | School |
| P | Jeff Austin | Stanford |
| P | 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 |
| OF | G.W. Keller | Alabama |
| OF | Mike Koerner | LSU |
| DH | Mark Peer | Alabama |

### Notable players

* Alabama: Dustan Mohr, Andy Phillips
* Auburn: Josh Hancock, Tim Hudson, David Ross
* LSU: Brandon Larson
* Miami (FL): Pat Burrell, Bobby Hill, Aubrey Huff, Jason Michaels
* Mississippi State: Eric DuBose, Matt Ginter, Adam Piatt
* Rice: Matt Anderson, Lance Berkman, Kevin Joseph
* Stanford: Jeff Austin, Tony Cogan, Chad Hutchinson, Kyle Peterson
* UCLA: Eric Byrnes, Troy Glaus, Tom Jacquez, Jim Parque, Eric Valent