1981 NCAA Division I baseball tournament
The 1981 NCAA Division I baseball tournament was played at the end of the 1981 [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 thirty fifth year. Eight regional competitions were held to determine the participants in the final event. Seven regions held a four team, double-elimination tournament while one region included six teams, resulting in 34 teams participating in the tournament at the conclusion of their regular season, and in some cases, after a conference tournament. The thirty-fifth tournament's champion was 1981 [Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team|Arizona State] coached by Jim Brock. The College [World Series Most Outstanding Player|Most Outstanding Player] was Stan Holmes of Arizona State [Sun Devils baseball|Arizona State].
Regionals
The opening rounds of the tournament were played across eight regional sites across the country, seven consisting of four teams and one of six teams. The winners of each Regional advanced to the College World Series.Bold indicates winner.
College World Series
Results
Bracket
Game results
| Date | Game | Winner | Score | Loser | Notes |
| May 30 | Game 1 | 4–0 | 1981 [Michigan Wolverines baseball team|Michigan] | ||
| May 30 | Game 2 | 1981 [Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team|Arizona State] | 11–2 | 1981 [Texas Longhorns baseball team|Texas] | |
| May 31 | Game 3 | 1981 [Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team|Oklahoma State] | 8–5 | ||
| May 31 | Game 4 | 1981 [Miami Hurricanes baseball team|Miami (FL)] | 6–1 | ||
| June 1 | Game 5 | Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team|Arizona State] | 4–3 | ||
| June 2 | Game 6 | 1981 [Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team|Oklahoma State] | 12–6 | Miami (FL) | |
| June 2 | Game 7 | 1981 [Texas Longhorns baseball team|Texas] | 6–5 | Michigan Wolverines baseball team|Michigan] | Michigan eliminated |
| June 3 | Game 8 | 12–7 | Maine eliminated | ||
| June 4 | Game 9 | Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team|Oklahoma State] | 11–10 | Arizona State | Oklahoma St. qualified for final |
| June 4 | Game 10 | Texas Longhorns baseball team|Texas] | 5–4 | Miami (FL) | Miami eliminated |
| June 5 | Game 11 | 6–5 | Mississippi State eliminated | ||
| June 6 | Game 12 | Texas | 15–8 | Oklahoma State | |
| June 6 | Game 13 | Arizona State | 10–7 | South Carolina eliminated | |
| June 7 | Game 14 | Arizona State | 12–3 | Texas | Texas eliminated |
| June 8 | Final | Arizona State | 7–4 | Oklahoma State | Arizona State wins CWS |
All-Tournament Team
The following players were members of the All-Tournament Team.| Position | Player | School |
| P | Kevin Dukes | Arizona State |
| P | Don Mundie | Mississippi State |
| C | Burk Goldthorn | Texas |
| 1B | Alvin Davis | Arizona State |
| 2B | Billy DeMann | Arizona State |
| 3B | Mike Sodders | Arizona State |
| SS | Rod Carraway | |
| OF | Mark Gillaspie | Mississippi State |
| OF | Stan Holmes | Arizona State |
| OF | Mickey Tettleton | Oklahoma State |
| DH | Lemmie Miller | Arizona State |