UCSB dropped a 3-2 decision to host Oregon State in a winner’s bracket game of the NCAA Baseball Corvallis Regional on Saturday.
The Beavers scored the winning run on a bases-loaded walk by Gaucho closer Dylan Hecht in the top of the ninth inning.
UCSB will play Texas A&M in an elimination game at noon on Sunday. The winner will face Oregon State at 5 p.m.
The Gauchos took a 2-1 lead in the third inning. Joey Epperson led off with a double down the left-field line, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a grounder to second by Brandon Trinkwon.
Oregon State, the No.3 seed in the 64-team tournament, tied the score with two outs in the 6th. Dylan Davis doubled to left off Gaucho starter Justin Jacome and Ryan Barnes followed with a single to score Davis.
The Gauchos, who had only five hits off Oregon State starter Andrew Moore, threatened in the eighth inning. Epperson led off with a single was sacrificed to second by Trinkwon and went to third on a wild pitch. Moore struck out Woody Woodward, intentionally walked Tyler Kursea and walked Robby Nesovic to load the bases. Cameron Newell then hit a ball to deep shortstop that Tyler Smith of the Beavers backhanded on his knees and threw to second to get the force out to end the inning.
In the ninth, Gaucho reliever Greg Mahle got one out before Andy Peterson reached first on a bunt single and Michael Conforto was hit by a pitch. UCSB coach Andrew Checketts brought in Hecht and he got Dylan Davis to ground out to second base.
Hecht walked Ryan Barnes to load the bases and Kavin Hayes drew a walk to force Peterson home for the eventual winning run.
Barnes gave the Beavers a 1-0 in the second inning with a lead-off homer to left-center field.
The Gauchos tied the score in the bottom of the inning. Nesovic was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a single to right by Newell.
