The 1997 NCAA Division I softball tournament was the sixteenth annual tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA women's collegiate softball. Held during May 1997, thirty-two Division I college softball teams contested the championship. The tournament featured eight regionals of four teams, each in a double elimination format. The 1997 Women's College World Series was held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from May 22 through May 26 and marked the conclusion of the 1997 NCAA Division I softball season. The event returned to Oklahoma City after a one-year hiatus, and it has remained there ever since. Arizona won their fifth NCAA championship by defeating UCLA 10–2 in the final game. Arizona pitcher Nancy Evans was named Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player.

Qualifying

Regionals

Regional No. 1 - held at Tucson, Arizona

Arizona qualifies for WCWS.

Regional No. 2 - held at Columbia, South Carolina

South Carolina qualifies for WCWS.

Regional No. 3 - held at Iowa City, Iowa

Iowa qualifies for WCWS.

Regional No. 4 - held at Fresno, California

Fresno State qualifies for WCWS.

Regional No. 5 - held at Lafayette, Louisiana

UCLA qualifies for WCWS

Regional No. 6 - held at Ann Arbor, Michigan

Michigan qualifies for WCWS.

Regional No. 7 - held at Norman, Oklahoma

Washington qualifies for WCWS.

Regional No. 8 - held at Amherst, Massachusetts

UMass qualifies for WCWS.

Women's College World Series

Participants

School Conference Record Head coach WCWS appearances† (Including 1997 WCWS) Arizona Pac-10 57–4 Mike Candrea 10 Western Athletic 52–12 Margie Wright 10 Big Ten 51–7 Gayle Blevins 3 Atlantic 10 37–21–1 Elaine Sortino 2 Big Ten 55–14–1 Carol Hutchins 3 SEC 63–3 Joyce Compton 3 UCLA Pac-10 45–12 Sue Enquist 15 Pac-10 48–17 Teresa Wilson 2

†: Excludes results of the pre-NCAA Women's College World Series of 1969 through 1981.

Results

Bracket

Game results Date Game Winner Score Loser Notes May 22 Game 1 Arizona 2 – 1 8 Game 2 UCLA 2 – 0 8 Game 3 3 – 2 Game 4 6 – 0 May 23 Game 5 Arizona 2 – 0 14 UCLA Game 6 5 – 1 May 24 Game 7 2 – 1 UMass eliminated Game 8 1 – 0 South Carolina eliminated Game 9 7 – 6 Iowa eliminated Game 10 UCLA 7 – 3 Michigan eliminated May 25 Game 11 3 – 0 Arizona Fresno State forces the If Necessary Game (Game 13) Game 12 UCLA 4 – 3 UCLA forces the If Necessary Game (Game 14) Game 13 Arizona 6 – 3 Fresno State eliminated Game 14 UCLA 1 – 0 Washington eliminated May 26 Championship Game Arizona 10 – 2 5 UCLA Arizona Wins 1997 WCWS

Championship Game

School Top Batter Stats. Arizona Wildcats Nancy Evans (P) 1-3 3RBIs 2B BB UCLA Bruins Julie Marshall (3B) 1-2 RBI HR

School Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO AB BF Arizona Wildcats Nancy Evans (W) 5.0 5 2 2 1 3 20 21 UCLA Bruins Christa Williams (L) 5.0 11 10 8 5 7 25 33

All-Tournament Team The following players were members of the All-Tournament Team. Position Player Class School P Jamie Graves Freshman Washington Danielle Henderson Sophomore Massachusetts Christa Williams Freshman UCLA C Stacey Nuveman Freshman UCLA 1B Leah O'Brien Senior Arizona Alleah Poulson Senior UCLA 2B Nina Lindenberg Junior Fresno State Sara Pickering Senior Washington SS Christy Hebert Senior Iowa 3B Melissa Gentile Freshman Michigan OF Alison Johnsen Junior Arizona MOP Nancy Evans Junior Arizona

See also 1997 NCAA Division II softball tournament 1997 NCAA Division III softball tournament 1997 NAIA softball tournament 1997 NCAA Division I baseball tournament

References