2003 NCAA Division I baseball tournament
The 2003 NCAA Division I baseball tournament was held May 30 through June 23, to conclude the 2003 [NCAA Division I baseball season]. 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 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 Owls baseball team|Rice] defeated Stanford Cardinal baseball team|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.Tournament notes
CWS records tied or broken
National seedsBold indicates CWS participant.''
Regionals and super regionalsBold indicates winner.Houston Super RegionalThe Houston Super Regional was hosted by Rice at Reckling Park.College World SeriesBracketAll-Tournament TeamThe following players were members of the College World Series All-Tournament Team.
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