# 1979 NCAA Division I baseball tournament

The 1979 NCAA Division I baseball tournament was played at the end of the 1979 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 thirty third 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 thirty-third tournament's champion was Cal State Fullerton, coached by Augie Garrido. The Most Outstanding Player was Tony Hudson of Cal State Fullerton.

## 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 on to the College World Series.

### Northeast Regional

Games played at Annapolis, Maryland.
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Connecticut | Connecticut | 5 | | | | | | | |
| Navy | Navy | 4 | | | | | | | |
| Navy | Navy | 4 | St. John's | St. John's | 6 | | | | |
| | | | Connecticut | Connecticut | 3 | | | | |
| St. John's | St. John's | 5 | Connecticut | Connecticut | 3 | | | | |
| Nebraska | Nebraska | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Nebraska | Nebraska | 0 | | | | St. John's | St. John's | 4 | 0 |
| | | | | | | Connecticut | Connecticut | 14 | 4 |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | Connecticut | Connecticut | 14 | 4 |
| | | | Connecticut | Connecticut | 15 | | | | |
| Navy | Navy | 4 | Nebraska | Nebraska | 0 | | | | |
| Nebraska | Nebraska | 13 | | | | | | | |

### Atlantic Regional

Games played at Coral Gables, Florida.
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Clemson | Clemson | 8 | | | | | | | |
| Georgia Southern | Georgia Southern | 4 | | | | | | | |
| Georgia Southern | Georgia Southern | 4 | Clemson | Clemson | 1 | | | | |
| | | | Miami (FL) | Miami (FL) | 2 | | | | |
| Miami (FL) | Miami (FL) | 3$^{16}$ | Miami (FL) | Miami (FL) | 2 | | | | |
| The Citadel | The Citadel | 1 | | | | | | | |
| The Citadel | The Citadel | 1 | | | | Miami (FL) | Miami (FL) | 4 | — |
| | | | | | | Clemson | Clemson | 1 | — |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | Clemson | Clemson | 1 | — |
| | | | Clemson | Clemson | 2 | | | | |
| Georgia Southern | Georgia Southern | 5 | Georgia Southern | Georgia Southern | 0 | | | | |
| The Citadel | The Citadel | 3 | | | | | | | |

### Mideast Regional

Games played at East Lansing, Michigan.
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| San Diego State | San Diego State | 11 | | | | | | | |
| Miami (OH) | Miami (OH) | 6 | | | | | | | |
| Miami (OH) | Miami (OH) | 6 | San Diego State | San Diego State | 9 | | | | |
| | | | Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 15 | | | | |
| Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 15 | Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 15 | | | | |
| Michigan State | Michigan State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Michigan State | Michigan State | 0 | | | | Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 13 | — |
| | | | | | | San Diego State | San Diego State | 2 | — |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | San Diego State | San Diego State | 2 | — |
| | | | San Diego State | San Diego State | 5 | | | | |
| Miami (OH) | Miami (OH) | 4 | Michigan State | Michigan State | 4 | | | | |
| Michigan State | Michigan State | 6 | | | | | | | |

### East Regional

Games played at Tallahassee, Florida
| First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Third Round | Third Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Delaware | 10 | | | | | | | | |
| Seton Hall | 1 | Delaware | 7 | | | | | |
| | | Florida State | 6 | | | | | | |
| Arkansas | 12 | | | Delaware | 6 | | | | |
| George Washington | 11 | | | Arkansas | 8 | | | | | |
| | | Arkansas | 9 | | | | | Arkansas | 4 | — |
| | | Florida | 1 | | | | | Delaware | 3 | — |
| Florida | 9 | | | | | Delaware | 7 | | | |
| Florida State | 5 | | | Florida | 12 | Florida | 5 | | | |
| | | Seton Hall | 2 | George Washington | 7 | | | | | |
| | | George Washington | 5 | | | | | | | |

### Midwest Regional

Games played at Tucson, Arizona.
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Hawaii | Hawaii | 4 | | | | | | | |
| Indiana State | Indiana State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Indiana State | Indiana State | 3 | Hawaii | Hawaii | 2 | | | | |
| | | | Arizona | Arizona | 10 | | | | |
| Arizona | Arizona | 8 | Arizona | Arizona | 10 | | | | |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 1 | | | | Arizona | Arizona | 5 | — |
| | | | | | | Hawaii | Hawaii | 3 | — |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | Hawaii | Hawaii | 3 | — |
| | | | Hawaii | Hawaii | 12 | | | | |
| Indiana State | Indiana State | 2 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 8 | | | | |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 9 | | | | | | | |

### Central Regional

Games played at Austin, Texas.
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Texas | Texas | 4 | | | | | | | |
| Texas–Pan American | Texas–Pan American | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Texas–Pan American | Texas–Pan American | 2 | Texas | Texas | 6 | | | | |
| | | | Lamar | Lamar | 4 | | | | |
| Lamar | Lamar | 3 | Lamar | Lamar | 4 | | | | |
| BYU | BYU | 2 | | | | | | | |
| BYU | BYU | 2 | | | | Texas | Texas | 6 | — |
| | | | | | | BYU | BYU | 2 | — |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | BYU | BYU | 2 | — |
| | | | Lamar | Lamar | 4 | | | | |
| Texas–Pan American | Texas–Pan American | 5 | BYU | BYU | 7 | | | | |
| BYU | BYU | 11 | | | | | | | |

### South Regional

Games played at Starkville, Mississippi.
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Murray State | Murray State | 5 | | | | | | | |
| Tulane | Tulane | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Tulane | Tulane | 3 | Murray State | Murray State | 16 | | | | |
| | | | New Orleans | New Orleans | 15 | | | | |
| New Orleans | New Orleans | 13 | New Orleans | New Orleans | 15 | | | | |
| Mississippi State | Mississippi State | 11 | | | | | | | |
| Mississippi State | Mississippi State | 11 | | | | Murray State | Murray State | 6 | 8 |
| | | | | | | Mississippi State | Mississippi State | 8 | 18 |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | Mississippi State | Mississippi State | 8 | 18 |
| | | | New Orleans | New Orleans | 10 | | | | |
| Tulane | Tulane | 4 | Mississippi State | Mississippi State | 13 | | | | |
| Mississippi State | Mississippi State | 12 | | | | | | | |

### West Regional

Games played at Fresno, California.
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| UCLA | UCLA | 5 | | | | | | | |
| Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | 4 | | | | | | | |
| Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | 4 | UCLA | UCLA | 5 | | | | |
| | | | Fresno State | Fresno State | 4 | | | | |
| Fresno State | Fresno State | 10* | Fresno State | Fresno State | 4 | | | | |
| Portland | Portland | 8* | | | | | | | |
| Portland | Portland | 8* | | | | UCLA | UCLA | 2 | 5 |
| | | | | | | Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | 9 | 9 |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | 9 | 9 |
| | | | Fresno State | Fresno State | 3 | | | | |
| Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | 20 | Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | 12 | | | | |
| Portland | Portland | 3 | | | | | | | |

## College World Series

Connecticut, Miami (FL), Pepperdine, Arkansas, Arizona, Texas, Mississippi St., and Cal St. Fullerton won their regionals and moved on to the College World Series.

### Participants

| School | Conference | Record (conference) | Head coach | CWS appearances | CWS best finish | CWS record |
| Arizona | Pac-10 | 42–23 (17–13) | Jerry Kindall | 10 (last: 1976) | 1st (1976) | 21–19 |
| Arkansas | SWC | 46–13 (19–5) | Norm DeBriyn | 0 (last: none) | none | 0–0 |
| Cal State Fullerton | SCBA | 55–13 (23–4) | Augie Garrido | 1 (last: 1975) | 7th (1975) | 0–2 |
| Connecticut | Eastern Collegiate | 31–11 (n/a) | Larry Panciera | 4 (last: 1972) | 5th (1957, 1972) | 3–8 |
| Miami (FL) | n/a | 55–9 (n/a) | Ron Fraser | 2 (last: 1978) | 2nd (1974) | 5–4 |
| Mississippi State | SEC | 47–10 (17–2) | Ron Polk | 1 (last: 1971) | 7th (1971) | 0–2 |
| Pepperdine | SCBA | 50–16 (19–9) | Dave Gorrie | 0 (last: none) | none | 0–0 |
| Texas | SWC | 53–6 (22–2) | Cliff Gustafson | 17 (last: 1975) | 1st (1949, 1950, 1975) | 36–30 |

### 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 |
| Arkansas | Arkansas | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 4 | Arkansas | Arkansas | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Arizona | Arizona | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Arizona | Arizona | 5 | Arizona | Arizona | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Miami (FL) | Miami (FL) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Miami (FL) | Miami (FL) | 1 | | | | Arkansas | Arkansas | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Texas | Texas | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Texas | Texas | 11 | | | | Texas | Texas | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| Texas | Texas | 11 | | | | | | | Arkansas | Arkansas | 10 | | | | | | |
| Connecticut | Connecticut | 5 | | | | | | | Arkansas | Arkansas | 10 | | | | | | |
| Connecticut | Connecticut | 5 | Texas | Texas | 8 | | | | Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | 13 | | | | | | |
| | | | Mississippi State | Mississippi State | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mississippi State | Mississippi State | 6 | Mississippi State | Mississippi State | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | 8 | Arkansas | Arkansas | 1 |
| | | | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 2 | Lower round 2 | Lower round 2 | | | | | Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 5 | | | |
| | | | | | | Mississippi State | Mississippi State | | | | | | 4 | | | | | |
| | | | Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 9 | Pepperdine | Pepperdine | | | | | | 5$^{10}$ | | | | | |
| | | | Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 9 | Pepperdine | Pepperdine | | Texas | Texas | 4 | | 5$^{10}$ | | | | | |
| | | | Miami (FL) | Miami (FL) | 3 | | | | Texas | Texas | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | Miami (FL) | Miami (FL) | 3 | | | | Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Arizona | Arizona | | Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 6 | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | Connecticut | Connecticut | 3 | Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | | | | | 16 | | | | | | |
| | | | Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Game results

| Date | Game | Winner | Score | Loser | Notes |
| June 1 | Game 1 | Arkansas | 5–4 | Pepperdine | |
| June 1 | Game 2 | Arizona | 5–1 | Miami (FL) | |
| June 2 | Game 3 | Texas | 11–5 | Connecticut | |
| June 2 | Game 4 | Mississippi State | 6–1 | Cal State Fullerton | |
| June 2 | Game 5 | Pepperdine | 9–3 | Miami (FL) | Miami eliminated |
| June 3 | Game 6 | Cal State Fullerton | 8–3 | Connecticut | Connecticut eliminated |
| June 3 | Game 7 | Arkansas | 10–3 | Arizona | |
| June 3 | Game 8 | Texas | 8–2 | Mississippi State | |
| June 4 | Game 9 | Cal State Fullerton | 16–3 | Arizona | Arizona eliminated |
| June 4 | Game 10 | Pepperdine | 5–4 (10 innings) | Mississippi State | Mississippi State eliminated |
| June 5 | Game 11 | Arkansas | 9–4 | Texas | |
| June 6 | Game 12 | Pepperdine | 6–4 | Texas | Texas eliminated |
| June 6 | Game 13 | Cal State Fullerton | 13–10 | Arkansas | |
| June 7 | Game 14 | Cal State Fullerton | 8–5 | Pepperdine | Pepperdine eliminated |
| June 8 | Final | Cal State Fullerton | 2–1 | Arkansas | Cal State Fullerton wins CWS |

### All-Tournament Team

The following players were members of the All-Tournament Team.
| Position | Player | School |
| P | Tony Hudson (MOP) | Cal State Fullerton |
| P | Steve Krueger | Arkansas |
| C | Kurt Kingsolver | Cal State Fullerton |
| 1B | Tim Wallach | Cal State Fullerton |
| 2B | Mike Gates | Pepperdine |
| 3B | Dan Hanggie | Cal State Fullerton |
| SS | Larry Wallace | Arkansas |
| OF | Marc Brumble | Arkansas |
| OF | Kevin McReynolds | Arkansas |
| OF | Joseph Bruno | Texas |
| DH | Keith Walker | Texas |

### Notable players

* Arizona: Terry Francona, Craig Lefferts, Brad Mills, John Moses, Jim Scranton, Dwight Taylor
* Arkansas: Kevin McReynolds, Johnny Ray, Ronn Reynolds
* Cal State Fullerton: John Christensen, Andre David, Tim Wallach
* Connecticut:
* Miami (FL): Tony Brewer, Neal Heaton, Ross Jones, Mike Pagliarulo, Dennis Owens
* Mississippi State: Tim Weisheim
* Pepperdine: Mike Gates
* Texas: Jim Acker, Tony Arnold, Joseph Bruno, Keith Creel, Ron Gardenhire,Paul Martin, Jerry Don Gleaton, Andre Robertson, Ricky Wright

## Tournament notes

* In the South Regional semifinal Murray State and New Orleans set a tournament record for most combined runs in a game (31).