# 1996 NCAA Division I baseball tournament

The 1996 NCAA Division I baseball tournament was played at the end of the 1996 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 fiftieth 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 fiftieth tournament's champion was LSU, coached by Skip Bertman. The Most Outstanding Player was Pat Burrell of Miami (FL).

## 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 Clemson at Tiger Field in Clemson, South Carolina
| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Clemson | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Charleston Southern | 1 | 1 | Clemson | 5 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Old Dominion | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Tennessee | 4 | | | | 1 | Clemson | 6 | | | | | | |
| 5 | West Virginia | 8 | | | | 5 | West Virginia | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | West Virginia | 9 | | | | | | | 1 | Clemson | 12 | – |
| | | | 3 | Georgia Southern | 4 | | | | | | | 2 | Tennessee | 5 | – |
| 3 | Georgia Southern | 6 | | | | | | | 2 | Tennessee | 10 | | | | |
| 4 | Old Dominion | 0 | | | | 2 | Tennessee | 6 | 5 | West Virginia | 4 | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Tennessee | 8 | 3 | Georgia Southern | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Charleston Southern | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Central I Regional

Hosted by Texas at Disch–Falk Field in Austin, Texas
| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | 6 | Sam Houston State | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Texas | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Miami (FL) | 4 | 3 | Texas | 4 | 3 | Texas | 7 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Sam Houston State | 5 | | | | 1 | Miami (FL) | 9 | 1 | Miami (FL) | 8 | |
| 6 | Sam Houston State | 5 | 1 | Miami (FL) | 5 | 1 | Miami (FL) | 9 | 1 | Miami (FL) | 8 | |
| | | | 1 | Miami (FL) | 5 | | | | 5 | SW Missouri State | 2 | |
| | | | 2 | Long Beach State | 2 | | | | 5 | SW Missouri State | 2 | | | |
| 2 | Long Beach State | 3 | 2 | Long Beach State | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Long Beach State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Miami (FL) | 8 |
| 5 | SW Missouri State | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Miami (FL) | 8 |
| 5 | SW Missouri State | 5 | 5 | SW Missouri State | 13 | | | | | | | 4 | UCLA | 4 |
| | | | 4 | UCLA | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Texas | 2 | 4 | UCLA | 2 | 5 | SW Missouri State | 4* | | | | | | |
| 4 | UCLA | 5 | | | | 4 | UCLA | 9* | | | | | | |
| 4 | UCLA | 5 | 6 | Sam Houston State | 2 | 4 | UCLA | 9* | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | UCLA | 10 | | | | | | | | | |

### Central II Regional

Hosted by Texas Tech at Dan Law Field in Lubbock, Texas
| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Southern California | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Akron | 10 | 1 | Southern California | 15 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Arkansas | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Texas Tech | 2 | | | | 1 | Southern California | 3 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Fresno State | 12 | | | | 3 | Oklahoma State | 9 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Fresno State | 5 | | | | | | | 3 | Oklahoma State | 10 | – |
| | | | 3 | Oklahoma State | 12 | | | | | | | 1 | Southern California | 2 | – |
| 3 | Oklahoma State | 6 | | | | | | | 1 | Southern California | 13* | | | | |
| 4 | Arkansas | 5 | | | | 5 | Fresno State | 2 | 2 | Texas Tech | 10* | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Akron | 2 | 2 | Texas Tech | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Texas Tech | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |

### East Regional

Hosted by Florida at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium in Gainesville, 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 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Bucknell | 0 | 1 | Florida | 12 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | NC State | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | UCF | 7 | | | | 1 | Florida | 6* | | | | | | |
| 5 | UMass | 8 | | | | 4 | South Florida | 4* | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | UMass | 8 | | | | | | | 1 | Florida | 12 | – |
| | | | 4 | South Florida | 14 | | | | | | | 5 | UMass | 2 | – |
| 3 | NC State | 3 | | | | | | | 4 | South Florida | 12 | | | | |
| 4 | South Florida | 12 | | | | 5 | UMass | 7 | 5 | UMass | 13 | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Bucknell | 1 | 2 | UCF | 5 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | UCF | 13 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Midwest Regional

Hosted by Wichita State at Eck Stadium in Wichita, Kansas
| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Wichita State | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Indiana | 0 | 1 | Wichita State | 9 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Missouri | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Cal State Fullerton | 19 | | | | 1 | Wichita State | 6 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Delaware | 8 | | | | 2 | Cal State Fullerton | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Cal State Fullerton | 7 | | | | | | | 1 | Wichita State | 16 | – |
| | | | 3 | Rice | 3 | | | | | | | 3 | Rice | 6 | – |
| 3 | Rice | 17 | | | | | | | 2 | Cal State Fullerton | 10 | | | | |
| 4 | Missouri | 4 | | | | 3 | Rice | 11 | 3 | Rice | 13 | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Indiana | 10 | 6 | Indiana | 8 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Delaware | 8 | | | | | | | | | | |

### South I 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 | 19 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Princeton | 2 | 1 | Alabama | 9 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | South Alabama | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Virginia | 1 | | | | 1 | Alabama | 3 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Notre Dame | 12 | | | | 4 | Stetson | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Notre Dame | 6 | | | | | | | 1 | Alabama | 18 | – |
| | | | 4 | Stetson | 7 | | | | | | | 2 | Virginia | 8 | – |
| 3 | South Alabama | 8 | | | | | | | 4 | Stetson | 4* | | | | |
| 4 | Stetson | 9 | | | | 5 | Notre Dame | 1 | 2 | Virginia | 5* | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Princeton | 2 | 2 | Virginia | 7 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Virginia | 12 | | | | | | | | | | |

### South II 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 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Austin Peay | 5 | 1 | LSU | 7 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | UNLV | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Georgia Tech | 3 | | | | 1 | LSU | 17 | | | | | | |
| 5 | New Orleans | 13 | | | | 5 | New Orleans | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | New Orleans | 13 | | | | | | | 1 | LSU | 29 | — |
| | | | 4 | Tulane | 5 | | | | | | | 2 | Georgia Tech | 13 | — |
| 3 | UNLV | 7 | | | | | | | 5 | New Orleans | 7 | | | | |
| 4 | Tulane | 10 | | | | 4 | Tulane | 4 | 2 | Georgia Tech | 12 | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Austin Peay | 3 | 2 | Georgia Tech | 7 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Georgia Tech | 14 | | | | | | | | | | |

### 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 | Florida State | 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Northeastern Illinois | 0 | 1 | Florida State | 10 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | UC Santa Barbara | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Stanford | 10 | | | | 1 | Florida State | 5 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Cal State Northridge | 5 | | | | 2 | Stanford | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Stanford | 8 | | | | | | | 1 | Florida State | 9 | — |
| | | | 3 | Mississippi State | 6 | | | | | | | 5 | Cal State Northridge | 2 | — |
| 3 | Mississippi State | 6 | | | | | | | 2 | Stanford | 3 | | | | |
| 4 | UC Santa Barbara | 2 | | | | 3 | Mississippi State | 19 | 5 | Cal State Northridge | 4 | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Northeastern Illinois | 1 | 5 | Cal State Northridge | 20 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Cal State Northridge | 18 | | | | | | | | | | |

## College World Series

The championship game ended dramatically when LSU's Warren Morris hit a two-out, two-run home run against Miami reliever Robbie Morrison in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Tigers to a 9–8 victory over the Hurricanes. It was Morris's only home run of the 1996 season. Morris, an All-American in 1995, missed much of the 1996 season after suffering a wrist injury early in the campaign.
Oklahoma State's participation in CWS marked the last athletic event for the Big 8 Conference. The Big 8 was absorbed into the new Big 12 on July 1, 1996.

### Participants

| Seeding | School | Conference | Record (conference) | Head coach | CWS appearances | CWS best finish | CWS record |
| 1 | Alabama | SEC | 49–17 (20–10) | Jim Wells | 2 (last: 1983) | 2nd (1983) | 4–4 |
| 2 | Florida | SEC | 48–16 (20–10) | Andy Lopez | 2 (last: 1991) | 3rd (1991) | 3–4 |
| 3 | Wichita State | MVC | 54–9 (24–4) | Gene Stephenson | 6 (last: 1993) | 1st (1989) | 16–9 |
| 4 | Clemson | ACC | 49–15 (17–7) | Jack Leggett | 7 (last: 1995) | 5th (1958, 1959, 1976) | 4–14 |
| 5 | Miami (FL) | n/a | 47–13 (n/a) | Jim Morris | 14 (last: 1995) | 1st (1982, 1985) | 29–25 |
| 6 | LSU | SEC | 48–15 (20–10) | Skip Bertman | 7 (last: 1994) | 1st (1991, 1993) | 15–11 |
| 7 | Florida State | ACC | 51–15 (19–5) | Mike Martin | 14 (last: 1995) | 2nd (1970, 1986) | 18–28 |
| 8 | Oklahoma State | Big 8 | 45–19 (17–9) | Gary Ward | 17 (last: 1993) | 1st (1959) | 38–32 |

### Results
#### Bracket

| First round | First round | First round | | | Second round | Second round | Second round | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | | | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Alabama | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Oklahoma State | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Oklahoma State | 5 | | | 1 | Alabama | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | Miami (FL) | 15 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Clemson | 3 | | | 5 | Miami (FL) | 15 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Miami (FL) | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Miami (FL) | 7 | | | | | | 5 | Miami (FL) | 14 | — | | | | | |
| Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | 5 | Miami (FL) | 14 | — | | | | | |
| Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | 4 | Clemson | 5 | — | | | | | |
| 8 | Oklahoma State | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Clemson | 5 | — | | | | |
| 4 | Clemson | 8$^{10}$ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Clemson | 8$^{10}$ | | | 1 | Alabama | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Clemson | 14 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Miami (FL) | 8 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | LSU | 9 |
| 2 | Florida | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | LSU | 9 |
| 7 | Florida State | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Florida State | 2 | | | 2 | Florida | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | LSU | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Wichita State | 8 | | | 6 | LSU | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | LSU | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | LSU | 9 | | | | | | 6 | LSU | 2 | — | | | | | |
| Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | 6 | LSU | 2 | — | | | | | |
| Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | 2 | Florida | 1 | — | | | | | |
| 7 | Florida State | 8 | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Florida | 1 | — | | | | |
| 3 | Wichita State | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Wichita State | 4 | | | 2 | Florida | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 7 | Florida State | 3 | | | | | | | | | |

#### Game results

| Date | Game | Winner | Score | Loser | Notes |
| May 31 | Game 1 | Alabama | 7–5 | Oklahoma State | |
| May 31 | Game 2 | Miami (FL) | 7–3 | Clemson | |
| June 1 | Game 3 | Florida | 5–2 | Florida State | |
| June 1 | Game 4 | LSU | 9–8 | Wichita State | |
| June 2 | Game 5 | Miami (FL) | 15–1 | Alabama | |
| June 2 | Game 6 | Clemson | 8–5 (10 innings) | Oklahoma State | Oklahoma State eliminated |
| June 3 | Game 7 | LSU | 9–4 | Florida | |
| June 3 | Game 8 | Florida State | 8–4 | Wichita State | Wichita State eliminated |
| June 4 | Game 9 | Clemson | 14–13 | Alabama | Alabama eliminated |
| June 4 | Game 10 | Florida | 6–3 | Florida State | Florida State eliminated |
| June 5 | Game 11 | Miami (FL) | 14–5 | Clemson | Clemson eliminated |
| June 6 | Game 12 | LSU | 2–1 | Florida | Florida eliminated |
| June 8 | Final | LSU | 9–8 | Miami (FL) | LSU wins CWS |

## All-Tournament Team

The following players were members of the College World Series All-Tournament Team.
| Position | Player | School |
| P | J.D. Arteaga | Miami (FL) |
| P | Ed Yarnall | LSU |
| C | Tim Lanier | LSU |
| 1B | Chris Moller | Alabama |
| 2B | Rudy Gomez | Miami (FL) |
| 3B | Pat Burrell (MOP) | Miami (FL) |
| SS | Alex Cora | Miami (FL) |
| OF | Justin Bowles | LSU |
| OF | Michael DeCelle | Miami (FL) |
| OF | Brad Wilkerson | Florida |
| DH | Chuck Hazzard | Florida |

### Notable players

* Alabama: Dustan Mohr, Tim Young
* Clemson: Kris Benson, Billy Koch, Matt LeCroy, Ken Vining
* Florida: David Eckstein, Mark Ellis, Josh Fogg, Paul Rigdon, Brad Wilkerson, Chuck Hazzard
* Florida State: Randy Choate, J. D. Drew
* LSU: Brett Laxton, Warren Morris, Ed Yarnall, Eddy Furniss
* Miami (FL): Pat Burrell, Alex Cora
* Oklahoma State: Dave Maurer, Brian Aylor
* Wichita State: Casey Blake, Braden Looper

## Tournament notes

* LSU's 29–13 victory over Georgia Tech sets a new tournament record for most combined runs (42).