# 1997 NCAA Division I softball tournament

The 1997 NCAA Division I softball tournament was the sixteenth annual tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA women's collegiate softball. Held during May 1997, thirty-two Division I college softball teams contested the championship. The tournament featured eight regionals of four teams, each in a double elimination format. The 1997 Women's College World Series was held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from May 22 through May 26 and marked the conclusion of the 1997 NCAA Division I softball season. The event returned to Oklahoma City after a one-year hiatus, and it has remained there ever since. Arizona won their fifth NCAA championship by defeating UCLA 10–2 in the final game. Arizona pitcher Nancy Evans was named Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player.

## Regionals
### Regional No. 1 - held at Tucson, Arizona

| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Nebraska | Nebraska | 10$^6$ | | | | | | | |
| Arizona State | Arizona State | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Arizona State | Arizona State | 1 | Nebraska | Nebraska | 0 | | | | |
| | | | Arizona | Arizona | 2 | | | | |
| Arizona | Arizona | 11$^6$ | Arizona | Arizona | 2 | | | | |
| Rider | Rider | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Rider | Rider | 2 | | | | Arizona | Arizona | 5 | — |
| | | | | | | Nebraska | Nebraska | 1 | — |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | Nebraska | Nebraska | 1 | — |
| | | | Nebraska | Nebraska | 2 | | | | |
| Arizona State | Arizona State | 12$^6$ | Arizona State | Arizona State | 1 | | | | |
| Rider | Rider | 0 | | | | | | | |
Arizona qualifies for WCWS.

### Regional No. 2 - held at Columbia, South Carolina

| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Kansas | Kansas | 3 | | | | | | | |
| South Florida | South Florida | 2 | | | | | | | |
| South Florida | South Florida | 2 | Kansas | Kansas | 0 | | | | |
| | | | South Carolina | South Carolina | 1 | | | | |
| South Carolina | South Carolina | 5 | South Carolina | South Carolina | 1 | | | | |
| UNC Greensboro | UNC Greensboro | 0 | | | | | | | |
| UNC Greensboro | UNC Greensboro | 0 | | | | South Carolina | South Carolina | 1 | — |
| | | | | | | Kansas | Kansas | 0 | — |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | Kansas | Kansas | 0 | — |
| | | | Kansas | Kansas | 3 | | | | |
| South Florida | South Florida | 2$^9$ | South Florida | South Florida | 1 | | | | |
| UNC Greensboro | UNC Greensboro | 0 | | | | | | | |
South Carolina qualifies for WCWS.

### Regional No. 3 - held at Iowa City, Iowa

| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Utah | Utah | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Missouri | Missouri | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Missouri | Missouri | 1 | Utah | Utah | 1 | | | | |
| | | | Iowa | Iowa | 3 | | | | |
| Iowa | Iowa | 2 | Iowa | Iowa | 3 | | | | |
| DePaul | DePaul | 1 | | | | | | | |
| DePaul | DePaul | 1 | | | | Iowa | Iowa | 6 | — |
| | | | | | | DePaul | DePaul | 2 | — |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | DePaul | DePaul | 2 | — |
| | | | Utah | Utah | 0 | | | | |
| Missouri | Missouri | 0 | DePaul | DePaul | 2 | | | | |
| DePaul | DePaul | 1 | | | | | | | |
Iowa qualifies for WCWS.

### Regional No. 4 - held at Fresno, California

| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Long Beach State | Long Beach State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Cal State Northridge | Cal State Northridge | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Cal State Northridge | Cal State Northridge | 0 | Long Beach State | Long Beach State | 2 | | | | |
| | | | Fresno State | Fresno State | 5$^{10}$ | | | | |
| Fresno State | Fresno State | 7 | Fresno State | Fresno State | 5$^{10}$ | | | | |
| California | California | 0 | | | | | | | |
| California | California | 0 | | | | Fresno State | Fresno State | 9 | — |
| | | | | | | California | California | 3 | — |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | California | California | 3 | — |
| | | | Long Beach State | Long Beach State | 1 | | | | |
| Cal State Northridge | Cal State Northridge | 2 | California | California | 3 | | | | |
| California | California | 3$^9$ | | | | | | | |
Fresno State qualifies for WCWS.

### Regional No. 5 - held at Lafayette, Louisiana

| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Southwestern Louisiana | Southwestern Louisiana | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Northeast Louisiana | Northeast Louisiana | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Northeast Louisiana | Northeast Louisiana | 1 | Southwestern Louisiana | Southwestern Louisiana | 4 | | | | |
| | | | UCLA | UCLA | 1 | | | | |
| UCLA | UCLA | 3 | UCLA | UCLA | 1 | | | | |
| Nicholls State | Nicholls State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Nicholls State | Nicholls State | 0 | | | | Southwestern Louisiana | Southwestern Louisiana | 0 | 0 |
| | | | | | | UCLA | UCLA | 9$^5$ | 3 |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | UCLA | UCLA | 9$^5$ | 3 |
| | | | UCLA | UCLA | 3 | | | | |
| Northeast Louisiana | Northeast Louisiana | 1 | Northeast Louisiana | Northeast Louisiana | 0 | | | | |
| Nicholls State | Nicholls State | 0 | | | | | | | |
UCLA qualifies for WCWS

### Regional No. 6 - held at Ann Arbor, Michigan

| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Central Michigan | Central Michigan | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Michigan State | Michigan State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Michigan State | Michigan State | 0 | Central Michigan | Central Michigan | 0 | | | | |
| | | | Michigan | Michigan | 3 | | | | |
| Michigan | Michigan | 1 | Michigan | Michigan | 3 | | | | |
| Cleveland State | Cleveland State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Cleveland State | Cleveland State | 0 | | | | Michigan | Michigan | 1 | 4 |
| | | | | | | Central Michigan | Central Michigan | 3$^8$ | 0 |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | Central Michigan | Central Michigan | 3$^8$ | 0 |
| | | | Central Michigan | Central Michigan | 6 | | | | |
| Michigan State | Michigan State | 6 | Michigan State | Michigan State | 4 | | | | |
| Cleveland State | Cleveland State | 0 | | | | | | | |
Michigan qualifies for WCWS.

### Regional No. 7 - held at Norman, Oklahoma

| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Oklahoma State | Oklahoma State | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 0 | Oklahoma State | Oklahoma State | 2 | | | | |
| | | | Washington | Washington | 5 | | | | |
| Washington | Washington | 8$^5$ | Washington | Washington | 5 | | | | |
| Southwest Missouri State | Southwest Missouri State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Southwest Missouri State | Southwest Missouri State | 0 | | | | Washington | Washington | 10 | — |
| | | | | | | Oklahoma State | Oklahoma State | 9 | — |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | Oklahoma State | Oklahoma State | 9 | — |
| | | | Oklahoma State | Oklahoma State | 5 | | | | |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 7 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 3 | | | | |
| Southwest Missouri State | Southwest Missouri State | 2 | | | | | | | |
Washington qualifies for WCWS.

### Regional No. 8 - held at Amherst, Massachusetts

| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| UMass | UMass | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Boston College | Boston College | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Boston College | Boston College | 0 | UMass | UMass | 0 | | | | |
| | | | Colorado State | Colorado State | 2 | | | | |
| Colorado State | Colorado State | 10$^5$ | Colorado State | Colorado State | 2 | | | | |
| Brown | Brown | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Brown | Brown | 0 | | | | Colorado State | Colorado State | 1 | 2 |
| | | | | | | UMass | UMass | 3 | 3$^8$ |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | UMass | UMass | 3 | 3$^8$ |
| | | | UMass | UMass | 4 | | | | |
| Boston College | Boston College | 6 | Boston College | Boston College | 1 | | | | |
| Brown | Brown | 2 | | | | | | | |
UMass qualifies for WCWS.

## Women's College World Series
### Participants

| School | Conference | Record | Head coach | WCWS appearances† (Including 1997 WCWS) |
| Arizona | Pac-10 | 57–4 | Mike Candrea | 10 |
| Fresno State | Western Athletic | 52–12 | Margie Wright | 10 |
| Iowa | Big Ten | 51–7 | Gayle Blevins | 3 |
| UMass | Atlantic 10 | 37–21–1 | Elaine Sortino | 2 |
| Michigan | Big Ten | 55–14–1 | Carol Hutchins | 3 |
| South Carolina | SEC | 63–3 | Joyce Compton | 3 |
| UCLA | Pac-10 | 45–12 | Sue Enquist | 15 |
| Washington | Pac-10 | 48–17 | Teresa Wilson | 2 |
†: Excludes results of the pre-NCAA Women's College World Series of 1969 through 1981.

### Results
#### Bracket

| First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | | | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Arizona | 2$^8$ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | UMass | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | UMass | 1 | 1 | Arizona | 2$^{14}$ | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | UCLA | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Fresno State | 0 | 5 | UCLA | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | UCLA | 2$^8$ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | UCLA | 2$^8$ | | | | 1 | Arizona | 0 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Fresno State | 3 | 3 | | | | | |
| 8 | UMass | 1 | | | | | | | | 4 | Fresno State | 3 | 3 | | | | |
| 4 | Fresno State | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Fresno State | 2 | 4 | Fresno State | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Iowa | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Arizona | 10$^5$ |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | UCLA | 2 |
| 3 | Iowa | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | UCLA | 2 |
| 6 | Michigan | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Michigan | 2 | 3 | Iowa | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 7 | Washington | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Washington | 6 | 7 | Washington | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | South Carolina | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | South Carolina | 0 | | | | 7 | Washington | 3 | 0 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 5 | UCLA | 4 | 1 | | | | | |
| 6 | Michigan | 1 | | | | | | | | 5 | UCLA | 4 | 1 | | | | |
| 2 | South Carolina | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | South Carolina | 0 | 6 | Michigan | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | UCLA | 7 | | | | | | | | | |

#### Game results

| Date | Game | Winner | Score | Loser | Notes |
| May 22 | Game 1 | Arizona | 2 – 1 $^8$ | UMass | |
| May 22 | Game 2 | UCLA | 2 – 0 $^8$ | Fresno State | |
| May 22 | Game 3 | Iowa | 3 – 2 | Michigan | |
| May 22 | Game 4 | Washington | 6 – 0 | South Carolina | |
| May 23 | Game 5 | Arizona | 2 – 0 $^{14}$ | UCLA | |
| May 23 | Game 6 | Washington | 5 – 1 | Iowa | |
| May 24 | Game 7 | Fresno State | 2 – 1 | UMass | UMass eliminated |
| May 24 | Game 8 | Michigan | 1 – 0 | South Carolina | South Carolina eliminated |
| May 24 | Game 9 | Fresno State | 7 – 6 | Iowa | Iowa eliminated |
| May 24 | Game 10 | UCLA | 7 – 3 | Michigan | Michigan eliminated |
| May 25 | Game 11 | Fresno State | 3 – 0 | Arizona | Fresno State forces the If Necessary Game (Game 13) |
| May 25 | Game 12 | UCLA | 4 – 3 | Washington | UCLA forces the If Necessary Game (Game 14) |
| May 25 | Game 13 | Arizona | 6 – 3 | Fresno State | Fresno State eliminated |
| May 25 | Game 14 | UCLA | 1 – 0 | Washington | Washington eliminated |
| May 26 | Championship Game | Arizona | 10 – 2 $^5$ | UCLA | Arizona Wins 1997 WCWS |

#### Championship Game

| School | Top Batter | Stats. |
| Arizona Wildcats | Nancy Evans (P) | 1-3 3RBIs 2B BB |
| UCLA Bruins | Julie Marshall (3B) | 1-2 RBI HR |
| School | Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | AB | BF |
| Arizona Wildcats | Nancy Evans (W) | 5.0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 21 |
| UCLA Bruins | Christa Williams (L) | 5.0 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 25 | 33 |

### All-Tournament Team

The following players were members of the All-Tournament Team.
| Position | Player | Class | School |
| P | Jamie Graves | Freshman | Washington |
| P | Danielle Henderson | Sophomore | Massachusetts |
| P | Christa Williams | Freshman | UCLA |
| C | Stacey Nuveman | Freshman | UCLA |
| 1B | Leah O'Brien | Senior | Arizona |
| 1B | Alleah Poulson | Senior | UCLA |
| 2B | Nina Lindenberg | Junior | Fresno State |
| 2B | Sara Pickering | Senior | Washington |
| SS | Christy Hebert | Senior | Iowa |
| 3B | Melissa Gentile | Freshman | Michigan |
| OF | Alison Johnsen | Junior | Arizona |
| MOP | Nancy Evans | Junior | Arizona |