The opening rounds of the tournament were played at eight regional sites across the country, each consisting of a six-team field.
LSU, which won the 1996 and 1997 national championships and set an NCAA record in 1997 by hitting 188 home runs, hit eight home runs in its first game (by seven different players) vs. USC, and added six more in its second game vs. Mississippi State to bring its season total to 157.
Needing one victory to advance to the championship game for the third consecutive year, LSU fell twice to USC, hitting just one home run in 18 innings.
USC and Pac-10 rival Arizona St. set numerous offensive records in the championship game, won by the Trojans 21–14.
This reduced home run output slightly, but it was not until more sweeping changes in 2011 before aluminum bats would perform more like their wood counterparts.