2003 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament

2003 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament
Season	2003
Teams	64
College World Series 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)
NCAA Baseball Tournaments «2002  2004»

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.

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 1947 through 1988, the College World Series was a true double elimination tournament. From 1989 through 2002, there were two double elimination pools, but the two teams coming out of the pools played a single championship game and a champion was crowned regardless of whether the loser had two losses.

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 Virginia Commonwealth Tournament Champion Conference USA Southern Mississippi Tournament Champion Horizon League Illinois-Chicago 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, North Carolina State
Big 12	5	Baylor, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, Texas A&M
Conference USA	4	East Carolina, Houston, Southern Mississippi, 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 State, New Mexico State, South Alabama
Big East	2	Notre Dame, Rutgers
Big Ten	2	Minnesota, Ohio State
Colonial Athletic	2	UNC Wilmington, Virginia Commonwealth
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	Illinois-Chicago
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.

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	7*

* extra innings

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	9*
	Baton Rouge Regional–Alex Box Stadium
										3	UNC Wilmington	8*
	4	Northeastern	6
	3	UNC Wilmington	12
						3	UNC Wilmington	9*
						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

* extra innings

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 Tenn. St.	4
						1	Mississippi State	5
						2	North Carolina	10
	3	Missouri	3*
	2	North Carolina	4*
											2	North Carolina	8*
	Starkville Regional–Dudy Noble Field
										1	Mississippi State	6*
	4	Middle Tenn. St.	7
	3	Missouri	13
						3	Missouri	5
						1	Mississippi State	10

* extra innings

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
																	SW Missouri State	13	13
	1	Nebraska	16
	4	Eastern Michigan	11
						1	Nebraska	2
						3	SW Missouri State	4
	3	SW Missouri State	8
	2	Coastal Carolina	3
											3	SW 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	3*
	4	McNeese State	2*
						1	Rice	10
						3	Wichita State	1
	3	Wichita State	4
	2	Mississippi	2
											1	Rice	5
	Houston Regional–Reckling Park
										3	Wichita State	2
	4	McNeese State	1
	2	Mississippi	7
						2	Mississippi	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

* extra innings

Palo Alto Super Regional

	First Round					Second Round					Regional Finals						Super Regionals
	1	Stanford	9
	4	Illinois-Chicago	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	Illinois-Chicago	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	Cent. Connecticut St.	2
						1	Arizona State	15
						3	New Mexico State	0
	3	New Mexico State	14*
	2	UNLV	12*
											1	Arizona State	16
	Tempe Regional–Packard Stadium
										2	UNLV	1
	4	Cent. Connecticut St.	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	11*
																	North Carolina State	9	5*
	1	North Carolina State	8
	4	Le Moyne	2
						1	North Carolina State	4*
						2	Va. Commonwealth	3*
	3	Western Carolina	0
	2	Va. Commonwealth	6
											1	North Carolina State	6*
	Wilson Regional–Fleming Stadium
										3	Western Carolina	4*
	4	Le Moyne	5
	3	Western Carolina	9
						3	Western Carolina	2
						2	Va. Commonwealth	0

* extra innings

College World Series

Participants

School	Conference	Record (Conference)	Head Coach	CWS Appearances	CWS Best Finish	CWS Record
Texas	Big 12	48–18 (19–8)	Augie Garrido	29 (last: 2002)	1st (1949, 1950, 1975, 1983, 2002)	68–49
Louisiana State	SEC	45–20 (20–9)	Smoke Laval	11 (last: 2000)	1st (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000)	29–13
South Carolina	SEC	44–20 (19–11)	Ray Tanner	10 (last: 2012)	1st (2010, 2011)	32–18
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
Stanford	Pac-10	46–15 (18–6)	Mark Marquess	14 (last: 2002)	1st (1987, 1988)	33–24
Cal State Fullerton	Big West	48–14 (15–6)	George Horton	11 (last: 2001)	1st (1979, 1984, 1995)	25–18
Miami (FL)	n/a	44–15–1 (n/a)	Jim Morris	19 (last: 2001)	1st (1982, 1985, 1999, 2001)	43–30

Bracket

	First round					Second round					Semifinals						Finals
		Texas	13
	8	Miami	2
							Texas	2
						5	Rice	12
	5	Rice	4
		Missouri State	2
											5	Rice	5
											Texas	4
	8	Miami	7
		Missouri State	5
						8	Miami	1
							Texas	5
																5	Rice	4*	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	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	4	8	1
W: David Aardsma (7-3) L: Ryan McCally (7-3) Att: 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
W: John Hudgins (14-3) L: Wade Townsend (11-2) Notes: Att: 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
W: Philip Humber (11-3) L: Mark Romanczuk (12-2) Notes: Rice wins first national championship in any team sport in school history; Stanford's Sam Fuld sets career CWS hits mark with 24; CWS attendance 260,091 sets new record; Att: 18,494

All Tournament Team

Position	Player	School
Pitcher	John Hudgins	Stanford
	Jeff Niemann	Rice
Catcher	Ryan Garko	Stanford
First Base	Curtis Thigpen	Texas
Second Base	Enrique Cruz	Rice
Third Base	Johnny Ash	Stanford
Shortstop	Justin Turner	Cal State Fullerton
Outfield	Chris Kolkhorst	Rice
	Danny Putnam	Stanford
	Carlos Quentin	Stanford
Designated Hitter	P.J. Pilittere	Cal State Fullerton