2008 NCAA Division I baseball season

2008 NCAA Division I baseball season
DurationFebruary 22–June 25, 2008
Number of teams298
Preseason No. 1Arizona State
Tournament
DurationMay 30–June 25, 2008
Most conference bidsSEC (9)
College World Series
DurationJune 14–June 25, 2008
ChampionsFresno State (1st title)
Runners-upGeorgia (6th CWS Appearance)
Winning CoachMike Batesole (1st title)
MOPTommy Mendonca (Fresno State)
Seasons
← 2007
2009 →

The 2008 NCAA Division I baseball season play of college baseball in the United States, organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level, began on February 22, 2008. The season was the first to have a uniform start date for both southern and northern teams. The change from previous seasons, in which weather allowed southern teams to begin play weeks before northern teams, was an attempt to improve parity between warm-weather and cold-weather teams.[1][2] The season progressed through the regular season, many conference tournaments and championship series, and concluded with the 2008 NCAA Division I baseball tournament and 2008 College World Series. The College World Series, which consisted of the eight remaining teams in the NCAA tournament, was held in its annual location of Omaha, Nebraska, at Rosenblatt Stadium. It concluded on June 25, 2008, with the final game of the best of three championship series. Fresno State defeated Georgia two games to one to claim their first championship. Fresno State was the first team seeded fourth in its regional tournament to win a national championship since the NCAA tournament adopted the current 64-team format in 1999.[3]

  1. ^ Kimmey, Will (January 11, 2006). "NCAA Approves Uniform Start Date for 2008". BaseballAmerica.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  2. ^ "College Baseball Plays Waiting Game with Uniform Start Date". USAToday.com. The Associated Press. February 15, 2008. Archived from the original on November 3, 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2012. The new NCAA uniform starting date for Division I baseball was established with the intent to create competitive balance among northern and southern teams.
  3. ^ Gardiner, Andy (July 10, 2008). "Fresno State Overpowers Georgia for First National Title". USAToday.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2012.