2003 NCAA Division I baseball tournament

The 2003 NCAA Division I baseball tournament was held May 30 through June 23, 2003. Sixty-four NCAA Division I college baseball teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament, to play in the NCAA tournament. The tournament culminated with 8 teams in the College World Series at historic Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska.

2003 NCAA Division I
baseball tournament

Season	2003
Teams	64
Finals site	Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium Omaha, Nebraska
Champions	Rice (1st title)
Runner-up	Stanford (15th CWS Appearance)
Winning coach	Wayne Graham (1st title)
MOP	John Hudgins (Stanford)
← 2002  NCAA Division I Baseball Championship 2004 →

ESPN, which held the rights to the College World Series, began televising super regional games in 2003. As part of the contract with ESPN, four super regionals would begin on Friday and run through Sunday, while the other four super regionals would begin Saturday and run through Monday.

The 2003 College World Series saw a format change and the championship was decided by a best-of-three series. From 1950 through 1987, the College World Series was a true double elimination tournament. From 1988 through 2002, there were two double elimination pools, with the winner of each facing off in a one game championship.

In the 2003 championship series, Rice defeated Stanford two games to one. John Hudgins became the 16th player to win the College World Series Most Outstanding Player Award from a losing team.

Bids

Automatic bids

Conference champions from 30 Division I conferences earned automatic bids to regionals. The remaining 34 spots were awarded to schools as at-large invitees.

Conference School Berth type America East Northeastern Tournament champion ACC Georgia Tech Tournament champion Atlantic Sun Jacksonville Tournament champion A-10 Richmond Tournament champion Big East Notre Dame Tournament champion Big South Coastal Carolina Tournament champion Big Ten Ohio State Tournament champion Big 12 Texas Tournament champion Big West Long Beach State Regular-season champion CAA VCU Tournament champion Conference USA Southern Miss Tournament champion Horizon League UIC Tournament champion Ivy League Princeton Championship series winner MAAC Le Moyne Tournament champion MAC Eastern Michigan Tournament champion Mid-Con Oral Roberts Tournament champion MEAC Bethune-Cookman Tournament champion Missouri Valley Wichita State Tournament champion MWC UNLV Tournament champion NEC Central Connecticut Tournament champion OVC Murray State Tournament champion Pac-10 Stanford Regular-season champion Patriot League Bucknell Tournament champion SEC Alabama Tournament champion SoCon Western Carolina Tournament champion Southland McNeese State Tournament champion SWAC Southern Tournament champion Sun Belt Middle Tennessee Tournament champion WCC Pepperdine Championship series winner WAC Rice Regular-season champion

Bids by conference

Conference	Total	Schools
Southeastern	8	Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina
Atlantic Coast	5	Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, NC State
Big 12	5	Baylor, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, Texas A&M
Conference USA	4	East Carolina, Houson, Southern Miss, Tulane
Pacific-10	4	Arizona, Arizona State, Stanford, Washington
Atlantic Sun	3	Florida Atlantic, Jacksonville, Stetson
Big West	3	Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, UC Riverside
Sun Belt	3	Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State, South Alabama
Big East	2	Notre Dame, Rutgers
Big Ten	2	Minnesota, Ohio State
Colonial Athletic	2	UNC Wilmington, VCU
Missouri Valley	2	Southwest Missouri State, Wichita State
Southland	2	Lamar, McNeese State
West Coast	2	Pepperdine, San Diego
America East	1	Northeastern
Atlantic 10	1	Richmond
Big South	1	Coastal Carolina
Horizon	1	UIC
Independent	1	Miami (FL)
Ivy	1	Princeton
Metro Atlantic	1	Le Moyne
Mid-American	1	Eastern Michigan
Mid-Continent	1	Oral Roberts
Mid-Eastern	1	Bethune-Cookman
Mountain West	1	UNLV
Northeast	1	Central Connecticut
Ohio Valley	1	Murray State
Patriot	1	Bucknell
Southern	1	Western Carolina
Southwestern Athletic	1	Southern
Western Athletic	1	Rice

Tournament notes

• UC Riverside, Illinois-Chicago, and UNC Wilmington were making their first NCAA tournament appearance.^[1]

CWS records tied or broken

• Total attendance: 260,091
• Largest margin of victory in a championship game: 12
• Stanford became the first team to lose three games at one College World Series.

National seeds

Bold indicates CWS participant.

1. Florida State
2. LSU
3. Georgia Tech
4. Auburn
5. Rice
6. Stanford
7. Cal State Fullerton
8. Miami (FL)

Regionals and super regionals

Bold indicates winner.

Tallahassee Super Regional

	First round					Second round					Regional finals						Super regionals
	1	Florida State	6
	4	Jacksonville	0
						1	Florida State	6
						2	South Alabama	8
	3	Rutgers	1
	2	South Alabama	14
											2	South Alabama	5	2
	Tallahassee Regional–Dick Howser Stadium
											1	Florida State	13	12
	4	Jacksonville	5
	3	Rutgers	8
						3	Rutgers	7
						1	Florida State	17
																	1	Florida State	3	5	—
																		Texas	8	6	—
	1	Texas	7
	4	Bucknell	0
						1	Texas	7
						3	Lamar	3
	3	Lamar	3
	2	Arkansas	2
											1	Texas	2	6
	Austin Regional–Disch–Falk Field
											3	Lamar	6	3
	4	Bucknell	7
	2	Arkansas	10
						2	Arkansas	6
						3	Lamar	711

Baton Rouge Super Regional

	First round					Second round					Regional finals						Super regionals
	1	LSU	11
	4	Northeastern	8
						1	LSU	13
						2	Tulane	5
	3	UNC Wilmington	3
	2	Tulane	8
											1	LSU	911	—
	Baton Rouge Regional–Alex Box Stadium
											3	UNC Wilmington	8	—
	4	Northeastern	6
	3	UNC Wilmington	12
						3	UNC Wilmington	910
						2	Tulane	8
																	2	LSU	1	6	20
																		Baylor	4	5	5
	1	Baylor	7
	4	Murray State	6
						1	Baylor	10
						3	Southern	3
	3	Southern	5
	2	Southern Miss	3
											1	Baylor	3	—
	Hattiesburg Regional–Pete Taylor Park
											2	Southern Miss	2	—
	4	Murray State	0
	2	Southern Miss	18
						2	Southern Miss	18
						3	Southern	1

Columbia Super Regional

	First round					Second round					Regional finals						Super regionals
	1	Georgia Tech	4
	4	Stetson	5
						4	Stetson	2
						2	South Carolina	7
	3	East Carolina	0
	2	South Carolina	4
											2	South Carolina	9	—
	Atlanta Regional–Russ Chandler Stadium
											4	Stetson	3	—
	1	Georgia Tech	3
	3	East Carolina	10
						3	East Carolina	4
						4	Stetson	9
																		South Carolina	5	14	—
																		North Carolina	4	4	—
	1	Mississippi State	10
	4	Middle Tennessee	4
						1	Mississippi State	5
						2	North Carolina	10
	3	Missouri	3
	2	North Carolina	411
											2	North Carolina	811	—
	Starkville Regional–Dudy Noble Field
											1	Mississippi State	6	—
	4	Middle Tennessee	7
	3	Missouri	13
						3	Missouri	5
						1	Mississippi State	10

Columbus Super Regional

	First round					Second round					Regional finals						Super regionals
	1	Auburn	5
	4	Princeton	2
						1	Auburn	2
						3	Ohio State	6
	3	Ohio State	10
	2	Clemson	8
											3	Ohio State	9	—
	Auburn Regional–Plainsman Park
											1	Auburn	7	—
	4	Princeton	6
	2	Clemson	7
						2	Clemson	0
						1	Auburn	15
																		Ohio State	8	7	—
																		Southwest Missouri State	13	13	—
	1	Nebraska	16
	4	Eastern Michigan	11
						1	Nebraska	2
						3	Southwest Missouri State	4
	3	Southwest Missouri State	8
	2	Coastal Carolina	3
											3	Southwest Missouri State	5	7
	Lincoln Regional–Haymarket Park
											1	Nebraska	9	0
	4	Eastern Michigan	9
	2	Coastal Carolina	8
						4	Eastern Michigan	2
						1	Nebraska	18

Houston Super Regional

The Houston Super Regional was hosted by Rice at Reckling Park.

	First round					Second round					Regional finals						Super regionals
	1	Rice	310
	4	McNeese State	2
						1	Rice	10
						3	Wichita State	1
	3	Wichita State	4
	2	Ole Miss	2
											1	Rice	5	—
	Houston Regional–Reckling Park
											3	Wichita State	2	—
	4	McNeese State	1
	2	Ole Miss	7
						2	Ole Miss	4
						3	Wichita State	5
																	5	Rice	2	10	5
																		Houston	5	2	2
	1	Texas A&M	6
	4	Oral Roberts	3
						1	Texas A&M	16
						2	Alabama	5
	3	Houston	3
	2	Alabama	9
											1	Texas A&M	6	6
	College Station Regional–Olsen Field
											3	Houston	7	7
	4	Oral Roberts	2
	3	Houston	4
						3	Houston	16
						2	Alabama	7

Palo Alto Super Regional

	First round					Second round					Regional finals						Super regionals
	1	Stanford	9
	4	UIC	2
						1	Stanford	13
						3	UC Riverside	6
	3	UC Riverside	10
	2	Richmond	8
											1	Stanford	19	—
	Palo Alto Regional–Sunken Diamond
											2	Richmond	6	—
	4	UIC	0
	2	Richmond	5
						2	Richmond	8
						3	UC Riverside	1
																	6	Stanford	5	4	—
																		Long Beach State	1	2	—
	1	Long Beach State	6
	4	Pepperdine	1
						1	Long Beach State	7
						3	Washington	2
	3	Washington	5
	2	Minnesota	3
											1	Long Beach State	7	—
	Long Beach Regional–Blair Field
											3	Washington	2	—
	4	Pepperdine	5
	2	Minnesota	7
						2	Minnesota	1
						3	Washington	4

Fullerton Super Regional

	First round					Second round					Regional finals						Super regionals
	1	Cal State Fullerton	3
	4	San Diego	1
						1	Cal State Fullerton	4
						3	Notre Dame	3
	3	Notre Dame	13
	2	Arizona	4
											1	Cal State Fullerton	8	—
	Fullerton Regional–Goodwin Field
											3	Notre Dame	1	—
	4	San Diego	5
	2	Arizona	2
						4	San Diego	3
						3	Notre Dame	6
																	7	Cal State Fullerton	5	6	7
																		Arizona State	1	7	1
	1	Arizona State	14
	4	Central Connecticut	2
						1	Arizona State	15
						3	New Mexico State	0
	3	New Mexico State	1411
	2	UNLV	12
											1	Arizona State	16	—
	Tempe Regional–Packard Stadium
											2	UNLV	1	—
	4	Central Connecticut	3
	2	UNLV	22
						2	UNLV	16
						3	New Mexico State	10

Coral Gables Super Regional

	First round					Second round					Regional finals						Super regionals
	1	Miami (FL)	10
	4	Bethune-Cookman	5
						1	Miami (FL)	1
						2	Florida Atlantic	0
	3	Florida	3
	2	Florida Atlantic	4
											1	Miami (FL)	5	13
	Coral Gables Regional–Mark Light Field
											3	Florida	15	10
	4	Bethune-Cookman	6
	3	Florida	8
						3	Florida	22
						2	Florida Atlantic	14
																	8	Miami (FL)	10	1111	—
																		NC State	9	5	—
	1	NC State	8
	4	Le Moyne	2
						1	NC State	410
						2	VCU	3
	3	Western Carolina	0
	2	VCU	6
											1	NC State	614	—
	Wilson Regional–Fleming Stadium
											3	Western Carolina	4	—
	4	Le Moyne	5
	3	Western Carolina	9
						3	Western Carolina	2
						2	VCU	0

College World Series

Participants

School	Conference	Record (conference)	Head coach	CWS appearances	Best CWS finish	CWS record Not including this year
Cal State Fullerton	Big West	48–14 (15–6)	George Horton	11 (last: 2001)	1st (1979, 1984, 1995)	25–18
LSU	SEC	45–20 (20–9)	Smoke Laval	11 (last: 2000)	1st (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000)	29–13
Miami (FL)	n/a	44–15–1 (n/a)	Jim Morris	19 (last: 2001)	1st (1982, 1985, 1999, 2001)	43–30
Southwest Missouri State	MVC	40–24 (19–11)	Keith Guttin	0 (last: none)	none	0–0
Rice	WAC	53–11 (25–5)	Wayne Graham	3 (last: 2002)	5th (1999)	1–6
South Carolina	SEC	44–20 (19–11)	Ray Tanner	6 (last: 2002)	2nd (1975, 1977, 2002)	13-12
Stanford	Pac-10	46–15 (18–6)	Mark Marquess	14 (last: 2002)	1st (1987, 1988)	33–24
Texas	Big 12	48–18 (19–8)	Augie Garrido	29 (last: 2002)	1st (1949, 1950, 1975, 1983, 2002)	68–49

Bracket

	First round					Second round					Semifinals						Finals
		Texas	13
	8	Miami (FL)	2
							Texas	2
						5	Rice	12
	5	Rice	4
		Southwest Missouri State	2
											5	Rice	5	—
												Texas	4	—
	8	Miami (FL)	7
		Southwest Missouri State	5
						8	Miami (FL)	1
							Texas	5
																	5	Rice	410	3	14
																	6	Stanford	3	8	2
	2	LSU	2
	7	Cal State Fullerton	8
						7	Cal State Fullerton	6
						6	Stanford	5
	6	Stanford	8
		South Carolina	0
											7	Cal State Fullerton	3	5*
											6	Stanford	5	7*
	2	LSU	10
		South Carolina	11
							South Carolina	6
						6	Stanford	13

Championship series

Saturday 6/21 Game #1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Stanford	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	7	1
Rice	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	8	1
WP: David Aardsma (7–3)   LP: Ryan McCally (7–3) Attendance: 23,741

Sunday 6/22 Game #2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Rice	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	3	10	2
Stanford	1	0	2	0	0	0	5	0	X	8	9	0
WP: John Hudgins (14–3)   LP: Wade Townsend (11–2) Attendance: 17,907

Monday 6/23 Game #3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Stanford	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	2	5	2
Rice	3	1	0	0	0	7	0	3	X	14	14	0
WP: Philip Humber (11–3)   LP: Mark Romanczuk (12–2) Attendance: 18,494 Notes: Rice wins first national championship in any team sport in school history

All-Tournament Team

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

Position	Player	School
P	John Hudgins (MOP)	Stanford
	Jeff Niemann	Rice
C	Ryan Garko	Stanford
1B	Curtis Thigpen	Texas
2B	Enrique Cruz	Rice
3B	Johnny Ash	Stanford
SS	Justin Turner	Cal State Fullerton
OF	Chris Kolkhorst	Rice
	Danny Putnam	Stanford
	Carlos Quentin	Stanford
DH	P. J. Pilittere	Cal State Fullerton

References

1. "NCAA Men's College World Series Records 1947-2008" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved January 20, 2009.