As with the basketball NIT, the baseball NIT is a 32-tournament made up of those teams who did not qualify for one of the 64 spots in the NCAA tournament. Also as in basketball, teams who won their regular season title but did not make the field of 64 get an automatic bid to the baseball NIT. This year there are 14 teams receiving auto-bids to the baseball NIT and18 at-large selections. The auto-bids are:
1. North Florida (Atlantic Sun)
2. Southeast Louisiana (Southland)
3. Nevada (Mountain West)
4. South Alabama (Sun Belt)
5. San Diego (West Coast)
6. St. Louis (Atlantic 10)
7. Central Michigan (Mid-American)
8. Rider (Metro Atlantic)
9. Southeast Missouri State (Ohio Valley)
10. Illinois-Chicago (Horizon)
11. Alabama State (SWAC)
12. Bryant (Northeast)
13. Navy (Patriot)
14. Seattle (WAC)
The format consists of 8 regional hosts with 4 teams per region, to be played on campus sites. The 8 regional champs will advance to the NITCWS, which is held in June of each year in Elko, Nevada. The pairings are as such:
National NIT Seed #1
1. North Carolina
2. South Carolina
3. Cal State-Northridge
4. Bryant
National NIT Seed #2
1. North Florida
2. Central Florida
3. St. Louis
4. Rider
National NIT Seed #3
1. Alabama
2. Southern Mississippi
3. Memphis
4. Alabama State
National NIT Seed #4
1. UC-Irvine
2. Nevada
3. San Diego
4. Seattle
National NIT Seed #5
1. Nebraska
2. Missouri
3. Creighton
4. Southeast Missouri State
National NIT Seed #6
1. Connecticut
2. Liberty
3. Fresno State
4. Navy
National NIT Seed #7
1. Michigan State
2. Duke
3. Central Michigan
4. Illinois-Chicago
National NIT Seed #8
1. Southeast Louisiana
2. Kentucky
3. Alabama-Birmingham
4. South Alabama
1. North Florida (Atlantic Sun)
2. Southeast Louisiana (Southland)
3. Nevada (Mountain West)
4. South Alabama (Sun Belt)
5. San Diego (West Coast)
6. St. Louis (Atlantic 10)
7. Central Michigan (Mid-American)
8. Rider (Metro Atlantic)
9. Southeast Missouri State (Ohio Valley)
10. Illinois-Chicago (Horizon)
11. Alabama State (SWAC)
12. Bryant (Northeast)
13. Navy (Patriot)
14. Seattle (WAC)
The format consists of 8 regional hosts with 4 teams per region, to be played on campus sites. The 8 regional champs will advance to the NITCWS, which is held in June of each year in Elko, Nevada. The pairings are as such:
National NIT Seed #1
1. North Carolina
2. South Carolina
3. Cal State-Northridge
4. Bryant
National NIT Seed #2
1. North Florida
2. Central Florida
3. St. Louis
4. Rider
National NIT Seed #3
1. Alabama
2. Southern Mississippi
3. Memphis
4. Alabama State
National NIT Seed #4
1. UC-Irvine
2. Nevada
3. San Diego
4. Seattle
National NIT Seed #5
1. Nebraska
2. Missouri
3. Creighton
4. Southeast Missouri State
National NIT Seed #6
1. Connecticut
2. Liberty
3. Fresno State
4. Navy
National NIT Seed #7
1. Michigan State
2. Duke
3. Central Michigan
4. Illinois-Chicago
National NIT Seed #8
1. Southeast Louisiana
2. Kentucky
3. Alabama-Birmingham
4. South Alabama
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)