1998 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament

1998 NCAA Division I
Baseball Tournament
Season 1998
Teams 48
College World
Series Site		 Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium
Omaha, NE
Champions Southern California (11th title)
Runner-Up Arizona State (18th CWS Appearance)
Winning coach Mike Gillespie (1st title)
MOP Wes Rachels (Southern California)
NCAA Baseball Tournaments
«1997  1999»

The 1998 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament was played at the end of the 1998 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 second 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.[1] The fifty-second tournament's champion was Southern California, coached by Mike Gillespie. The championship was the Trojans' record 11th, but their first since 1978, the last under coach Rod Dedeaux. The Most Outstanding Player was USC second baseman Wes Rachels.

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. Regional games were schedules for Thursday, May 21 through Sunday, May 24; however, one final Sunday game had to be played the next day due to rainout. The winners of each regional advanced to the College World Series.[2]

In the final year of the 48-team tournament, six of the eight regionals required the full 11 games. Only Florida State and LSU advanced to the CWS unscathed.

Bold indicates winner.

East Regional Region at Clemson, SC

  May 21 May 22-23 May 23 May 24 May 24
                                               
  1  Southern California 10  
  6  Fordham 6     1  Southern California 4  
    3  VCU 14    
      3  VCU 3  
      5  The Citadel 2     3  VCU 0  
  5  The Citadel 5         4  South Alabama 6    
  6  Fordham 1        
  2  Clemson 12         4  South Alabama 3
  5  The Citadel 3           1  Southern California 4
      2  Clemson 1        
      4  South Alabama 2          
  3  VCU 1           4  South Alabama 2              
  4  South Alabama 2         1  Southern California 3            
  1  Southern California 8    
  2  Clemson 5  

Atlantic I Regional at Coral Gables, FL

  May 21 May 22-23 May 23 May 24 May 24
                                               
  1  Miami (FL) 21  
  6  Bowling Green 6     1  Miami (FL) 5  
    3  North Carolina 6    
      3  North Carolina 8  
      5  FIU 2     3  North Carolina 4  
  5  FIU 13         2  South Carolina 2    
  6  Bowling Green 7        
  2  South Carolina 21         3  North Carolina 4
  5  FIU 9           1  Miami (FL) 7
      2  South Carolina 9        
      4  Texas Tech 8          
  3  North Carolina 2           2  South Carolina 2              
  4  Texas Tech 6         1  Miami (FL) 14            
  1  Miami (FL) 13    
  4  Texas Tech 0  

Atlantic II Regional at Tallahassee, FL

  May 21 May 22 May 23 May 23 May 24
                                                 
  1  Florida State 10  
  6  Liberty 7     1  Florida State 27  
    3  Delaware 6    
  2  Auburn 15         1  Florida State 23            
  5  Rutgers 17           4  Oklahoma 2              
      5  Rutgers 7           1  Florida State 16 —
      4  Oklahoma 9         2  Auburn 10 —
  3  Delaware 3         2  Auburn 9    
  4  Oklahoma 6       2  Auburn 7     4  Oklahoma 8  
  2  Auburn 3     5  Rutgers 4  
  6  Liberty 2  

Central Regional at College Station, TX

  May 21 May 22-23 May 23 May 24 May 24
                                               
  1  Rice 11  
  6  Oral Roberts 1     1  Rice 11  
    3  Washington 20    
      3  Washington 13  
      6  Oral Roberts 6     3  Washington 4  
  5  UNC Charlotte 13         2  Texas A&M 6    
  6  Oral Roberts 20        
  2  Texas A&M 17         2  Texas A&M 5
  5  UNC Charlotte 0           4  Mississippi State 11
      2  Texas A&M 4        
      4  Mississippi State 3          
  3  Washington 4           2  Texas A&M 9              
  4  Mississippi State 7         4  Mississippi State 10            
  1  Rice 14    
  4  Mississippi State 15  

Midwest Regional at Wichita, KS

  May 21 May 22-23 May 23 May 24 May 25
                                               
  1  Wichita State 7  
  6  SE Missouri State 4     1  Wichita State 2  
    4  Arkansas 3    
      4  Arkansas 0  
      2  Georgia Tech 2     2  Georgia Tech 6  
  2  Georgia Tech 14         5  Oklahoma State 5    
  6  SE Missouri State 5        
  2  Georgia Tech 4         2  Georgia Tech 1
  5  Oklahoma State 13           3  Arizona State 3
      5  Oklahoma State 13        
      3  Arizona State 8          
  3  Arizona State 8           5  Oklahoma State 5              
  4  Arkansas 4         3  Arizona State 13            
  1  Wichita State 4    
  3  Arizona State 6  

South I Regional at Gainesville, FL

  May 21 May 22-23 May 23 May 24 May 24
                                               
  1  Florida 12  
  6  Monmouth 8     1  Florida 5  
    3  Baylor 10    
      3  Baylor 7  
      5  Illinois 8     5  Illinois 13  
  5  Illinois 12         2  Wake Forest 4    
  6  Monmouth 2        
  2  Wake Forest 14         5  Illinois 6
  5  Illinois 12           1  Florida 7
      2  Wake Forest 6        
      4  Richmond 5          
  3  Baylor 10           2  Wake Forest 9              
  4  Richmond 12         1  Florida 12            
  1  Florida 15    
  4  Richmond 3  

South II Regional at Baton Rouge, LA

  May 21 May 22 May 23 May 23 May 24
                                                 
  1  LSU 18  
  6  Nicholls State 4     1  LSU 15  
    4  SW Louisiana 6    
  2  Cal State Fullerton 16         1  LSU 13            
  5  Harvard 1           2  Cal State Fullerton 11              
      2  Cal State Fullerton 10           1  LSU 14 —
      3  Tulane 6         2  Cal State Fullerton 3 —
  3  Tulane 11         5  Harvard 3    
  4  SW Louisiana 5       5  Harvard 15     2  Cal State Fullerton 11  
  5  Harvard 6     3  Tulane 11  
  6  Nicholls State 5  

West Regional at Stanford, CA

  May 21 May 22-23 May 23 May 24 May 24
                                               
  1  Stanford 2  
  6  Loyola Marymount 6     6  Loyola Marymount 9  
    3  Long Beach State 19    
      3  Long Beach State 5  
      1  Stanford 1     3  Long Beach State 10  
  1  Stanford 19         4  NC State 6    
  5  Minnesota 1        
  2  Alabama 8         3  Long Beach State 5
  5  Minnesota 2           2  Alabama 3
      2  Alabama 10        
      4  NC State 13          
  3  Long Beach State 3           4  NC State 2              
  4  NC State 12         2  Alabama 9            
  2  Alabama 13    
  6  Loyola Marymount 5  

College World Series

The 1998 CWS was infamous for producing several high-scoring games, which was termed by media covering the Series as "Gorilla Ball" (or "Geaux-rilla Ball" among LSU fans), which placed a premium on home runs. LSU, which won the 1996 and 1997 national championships and set an NCAA record in 1997 by hitting 188 home runs, hit eight home runs in its first game vs. USC, and added six more in its second game vs. Mississippi State. Needing one victory to advance to the championship game for the third consecutive year, LSU fell twice to USC, failing to hit a home run in either game. USC and Pac-10 rival Arizona St. set numerous offensive records in the championship game, won by the Trojans 21–14.

Prior to the 1999 season, the NCAA adopted restrictions on aluminum bats, requiring the difference between the length and weight of the bat to be no more than three (e.g. a 34-inch bat could not weigh less than 31 ounces). This reduced home run output slightly, but it was not until more sweeping changes in 2011 before aluminum bats would perform more like their wood counterparts.

Participants

Seeding School Conference Record (Conference) Head coach CWS appearances CWS best finish CWS record
1 Florida SEC 46–16 (21–8) Andy Lopez 3
(last: 1996) 		3rd
(1991) 		5–6
2 Miami (FL) n/a 50–10 (n/a) Jim Morris 16
(last: 1997) 		1st
(1982, 1985) 		34–28
3 Florida State ACC 53–18 (18–4) Mike Martin 15
(last: 1996) 		2nd
(1970, 1986) 		19–30
4 Southern California Pac-10 44–16 (21–9) Mike Gillespie 18
(last: 1995) 		1st
(1948, 1958, 1961, 1963,
1968, 1970, 1971, 1972,
1973, 1974, 1978) 		67–21
5 LSU SEC 46–17 (21–9) Skip Bertman 9
(last: 1997) 		1st
(1991, 1993, 1996, 1997) 		23–11
6 Arizona State Pac-10 38–22 (18–11) Pat Murphy 17
(last: 1994) 		1st
(1965, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1981) 		52–29
7 Long Beach State Big West 42–21–1 (23–7) Dave Snow 3
(last: 1993) 		3rd
(1993) 		4–6
8 Mississippi State SEC 41–21 (14–15) Pat McMahon 6
(last: 1997) 		3rd
(1985) 		6–12

Results

Bracket

  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                       
1  Florida 13  
8  Mississippi State 14  
  8  Mississippi State 8  
  5  LSU 10  
4  Southern California 10
5  LSU 12  
  5  LSU 4 3  
  4  Southern California 5 7  
1  Florida 10  
4  Southern California 12  
  8  Mississippi State 1
  4  Southern California 7  
  4  Southern California 21
  6  Arizona State 14
2  Miami (FL) 3  
7  Long Beach State 1  
  2  Miami (FL) 2
  6  Arizona State 9  
3  Florida State 10
6  Arizona State 11  
  6  Arizona State 14 —
  7  Long Beach State 4 —  
7  Long Beach State 7  
3  Florida State 4  
  2  Miami (FL) 3
  7  Long Beach State 6  

Game results

Date Game Winner Score Loser Notes
May 29 Game 1 Arizona State 11–10 Florida State
Game 2 Miami (FL) 3–1 Long Beach State
May 30 Game 3 LSU 12–10 Southern California
Game 4 Mississippi State 14–13 Florida
May 31 Game 5 Arizona State 9–2 Miami (FL)
Game 6 Long Beach State 7–4 Florida State Florida State eliminated
June 1 Game 7 LSU 10–8 Mississippi State
Game 8 Southern California 12 – 10 (11 innings) Florida Florida eliminated
June 2 Game 9 Long Beach State 6–3 Miami (FL) Miami (FL) eliminated
Game 10 Southern California 7–1 Mississippi State Mississippi State eliminated
June 3 Game 11 Arizona State 14–4 Long Beach State Long Beach State eliminated
June 4 Game 12 Southern California 5–4 LSU
June 5 Game 13 Southern California 7–3 LSU LSU eliminated
June 6 Final Southern California 21–14 Arizona State Southern California wins CWS

All-Tournament Team

The following players were members of the All-Tournament Team.

Position Player Class School
Pitcher Jack Krawczyk Senior Southern California
Alex Santos Sophomore Miami (FL)
Catcher Eric Munson Sophomore Southern California
First baseman Robb Gorr Junior Southern California
Second baseman Wes Rachels Senior Southern California
Third baseman Andrew Beinbrink Junior Arizona State
Shortstop Michael Collins Junior Arizona State
Outfielder Rudy Arguellas Senior Arizona State
Cedrick Harris Freshman LSU
Brad Ticehurst Junior Southern California
Designated hitter Jason Lane Junior Southern California

Notable players

References

  1. ↑ "NCAA Men's College World Series Records" (PDF). NCAA. 2009. p. 195. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  2. ↑ "1998 NCAA Division I Baseball Regional Tournament Schedule & Results". ESPN. May 25, 1998. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
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